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     This story was printed from CdrInfo.com,

     located at http://www.cdrinfo.com.

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Certance, HP and IBM, the three technology provider companies (TPCs) for the LTO(TM) (Linear Tape-Open) Program, today announced that Fujifilm, Imation, Maxell, Sony and TDK...

have successfully completed the LTO Ultrium(TM) format media compliance verification testing process and have earned the right to use the LTO Ultrium format generation 3 trademark on their products.

"The hallmark of the LTO Program is the competitive environment it fosters which is enabled through the use of open-standards technology and realized through data interchange among competing LTO products," said Barry Rudolph, Vice President, Tape Storage Systems, IBM. "Verifying data interchange compliance among competing suppliers of LTO products is essential to the credibility and the ongoing market success of the LTO Ultrium format. As LTO technology competitors release LTO Ultrium generation 3 products, IT managers will be able to choose among many vendors based on features that best meet their needs."

The LTO program requires all licensees' media to pass a series of compliance verification tests - administered by an independent lab - which call for rigorous data interchangeability testing before being granted the right to display the trusted Ultrium trademark. Compliance testing of all Ultrium products must be repeated annually to confirm that all manufacturers are continuing to adhere to the LTO Ultrium format specifications.

The LTO Ultrium format generation 3 doubles physical storage capacity over generation 2, increasing to 800 GB compressed from 400 GB (assuming a 2:1 compression). Transfer rates in generation 3 improve to up to 80-160 MB per second (MB/s) from 40-80 MB/s in generation 2 compressed (assuming a 2:1 compression). The LTO Ultrium format generation 3 drives also offer backwards-compatible read-and-write capability with the Ultrium format generation 2 cartridges and backward read capability with generation 1 cartridges, helping to protect the investment customers have made in LTO technology.

The LTO Ultrium format is based on an open specification, providing the benefits of competition while supporting data interchange. With an impressive roster of over 30 licensees, the LTO specification is available for license to any manufacturer, giving users the unique ability to choose from a number of tape drive and data cartridge offerings. This pro-competitive environment fosters technological innovation, competitive pricing, and multiple sources of compatible products.

How to License LTO Ultrium Technology

The LTO program offers several different license packages - from enhanced packages that provide the specifications and licenses to manufacture Ultrium products, to basic packages, providing Ultrium format specifications and guidelines for interchangeability. Buyers seeking Ultrium format-compliant products should look for the Ultrium format compliance verification trademarks on both tape drives and data cartridges. Storage and media manufacturers interested in licensing LTO technology may obtain information by contacting the Law Offices of Ladas & Parry at (323) 934-2300, or by e-mail at LTO_INFO@ladasparry.com.

About Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Technology

LTO technology is a powerful, scaleable, adaptable open tape format created by technology providers Certance, HP, and IBM Corporation to help meet the growing demands of data protection in the midrange to enterprise-class server environments. This ultra-high capacity generation of tape storage products is designed to deliver outstanding performance, capacity and reliability combining the advantages of linear multi-channel, bi-directional formats with enhancements in servo technology, data compression, track layout, and error correction.

The LTO Ultrium format has a well-defined roadmap for growth and scalability. Independent compliance verification is vital to meet the free-interchange objectives that are at the core of the LTO Program. Ultrium tape mechanism and tape cartridge interchange specifications are available on a licensee basis. For additional information on LTO technology, visit the LTO Program Web site at www.ultrium.com.

Note: Linear Tape-Open, LTO, the LTO logo, Ultrium, and the Ultrium logo are trademarks of Certance, HP and IBM in the US and other countries.