Prices for DVD-Dual drives have continued to drop amid intensified competition as a number of manufacturers have recently launched the products and more are expected to follow suit in the second half of the year, according to DigiTimes.

According to optical storage drive makers in Taiwan, contact manufacturing prices for DVD-RW and DVD+RW drives have come down to about US$140-150, while prices for DVD-Dual drives have dropped to about US$160-170.

Market rumors, however, said that Sony had lowered its prices for DVD-Dual drives to below US$150 in June, followed by a record low quote of US$130 by a South Korean company in its attempt to land orders from one or more major PC brand companies.

The falling prices of DVD-Dual drives are expected to further upset the prices for DVD-RW and DVD+RW drives and put most Taiwanese manufacturers in a tough situation, compared to their South Korean and Japanese competitors, which enjoy patent right advantages, according to the Taiwanese companies.

Currently, it costs Taiwanese optical storage drive makers about US$25-30 in licensing fees for each of the DVD-Dual drives they produce, the companies said.