Philips Launches World's Fastest DVD Burner Jun 22, 2004

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Philips Electronics (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) announced that it has launched the world's first 16-speed DVD writer, which can burn a digital versatile disk in less than 6 min.

U.S. computer maker Dell will be the first customer for the new DVD burner, sources familiar with the Philips activity told Reuters. Philips and Dell have a partnership to supply each other with products.

Philips said it planned to produce 600,000 of the devices every month. Computer makers will pay 80 to 90 euros (approx. U.S. $97 to $109) per DVD writer when buying in large quantities, while consumers will have to pay around 180 euros.

The product, which has two layers that take the maximum storage capacity up to 8.5 gigabytes or 4 hr of DVD quality video, will be a mainstream feature in personal computers by the end of 2004, Philips said. Until now, eight-speed burners were at the top of the range.

Philips is considered the world's largest lighting maker, a top three hospital equipment producer, Europe's largest maker of consumer electronics, and number three in semiconductors. (Reuters)

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