Sanyo Electric has joined Blu-Ray group for a next-generation DVD format while remaining as a member of the rival HD-DVD group led by Toshiba Corp.

Sanyo, a core member of the Toshiba side, joined the Sony bloc in April, in order to provide key components for DVD players to both camps. Such components include Optical Pickup Units for blue-laser based devices. In fact, Sanyo has developed two versions of the component that can be used in Blu-Ray and HD-DVD readers.

Current plans of Sanyo, however, include the release of HD-DVD compliant players within this year.