Lite-On has received orders from Toshiba for half-height (H/H) HD DVD burners, according to sources at components suppliers.
Toshiba is releasing the H/H models to Lite-On IT in order to focus its own
production on slim-type HD-DVD burners in the face of strong competition from the
Blu-ray Disc (BD) camp.
Lite-On IT last week announced that it is developing H/H HD DVD burners, with
volume production to start in March 2007. But Lite-On IT maintains close business
relations with Sony, a key member of the BD camp, and it is also a manufacturer
for Philips, also a key BD member.
The sources pointed out that Hewlett Packard and other major PC firms are expected
to launch PCs equipped with HD-DVD burners in September 2006, with Toshiba being
their chief supplier for the ODDs.
Lite-On IT also stands a chance of receiving orders from Microsoft for add-on
HD-DVD drives for Xbox 360 game consoles, and shipments may start in the first
quarter of next year, the sources indicated.