Sony Electronics has begun shipping its 25GB single layer Blu-ray Disc recording media with AccuCORE technology. In addition, a dual layer 50GB capacity disc is set to debut in June.

Sony's AccuCORE technology, which was first integrated into recordable DVD media over a year ago, has been re-engineered for Blu-ray Discs to deliver reliability and durability.

The technology includes a hard disc coating that resists scratches, dust and static, a special material design that prevents data and image corruption, a uniform and cover layer that reduces fluctuation as the disc spins as well as temperature durability. Sony's Blu-ray media also supports a 2x recording speed (72 Mbps).

In addition to media, Sony will soon offer a wide range of Blu-ray Disc devices, including a Blu-ray Disc player, VAIO desktop and notebook computers, and an internal Blu-ray Disc drive.



Sony is not new to the blue laser-based format. The company released the world's first Blu-ray Disc recorder and media in Japan in 2003. The following year, Sony helped found the Blu-ray Disc Association, which now has over 160 members and contributors from various industries, to promote the new format.

The BD-R (write-once) 25GB and BD-RE (rewritable) 25GB recording media have suggested retail prices of $20 and $25, respectively. The soon to come BD-R 50GB and BD-RE 50GB recording media will have suggested retail prices of $48 and $60, respectively.