Philips to add DVD-RW support in new chipsets

December 29, 2003

Intresting news today as Digitimes reports that Philips will introduce dual format (NOT dual
layer) chips early 2004. Philips is member of the DVD+RW alliance, a group
of companies that promotes this format and has till now only supported the
DVD+RW format and marketed it as the ultimate single format solution.

Unfortunately for Philips is the market heading for the dual format
DVD recorders and the company has decided to also add DVD-RW support. Earlier
Pioneer, which till then only supported DVD-RW did the same and added DVD+RW
support to their drives and chipsets.

The
DVD-Dual chipsets will include a servo IC, an integrated MEPG-2 single
chip and supporting firmware, sources said. To offer the new chipsets,
Philips will have to pay licensing fees to DVD-RW technology holders,
including Pioneer and Taiyo Yuden, sources added.

In addition to Philips, other major
DVD chip suppliers, including Pioneer and Ricoh, have also come to support
the DVD-Dual standard since earlier this
year

Marketing wise this must be a hit for the DVD+RW
alliance as it could till now always boost that there were companies that were
manufacturing only DVD+RW products and no company that was manufacturing only
DVD-RW products. Also vote in our poll which format you are using the most.You can find the
poll at the left bottom on our frontpage.

Source: Digitimes.com