Imation To Ship DataPlay Media By Second Half
By Doug Olenick -- TWICE, 1/22/2001
LAS VEGAS -Blank media maker Imation will start shipping in the second half several varieties of blank DataPlay discs and a DataPlay disc-to-flash memory card hardware device.
The device, dubbed the DiscGo, accepts multiple flash memory-card formats allowing the music or digital images stored on the cards to be transferred to a DataPlay disc.
The DiscGo also can attach to a PC via a USB cable, enabling data to be uploaded and downloaded, said Imation's global product marketing manager Carla Pihowich. Pricing has not been set for the DiscGo.
Shipping at the same time as the DiscGo will be several types of DataPlay blank media. The company will have 250MB- and 500MB-capacity discs available for about $5 and $10, respectively. Although no official plans were announced, Imation is considering expanding its DataPlay hardware presence by adding a portable digital audio player at some point in the future.
Rusty Rosenberger, Imation's data storage and information technology manager, called the DataPlay technology a natural addition for Imation, which markets a long line of blank CD media and floppy diskette media. The company is contemplating entering the flash card market, he said, but no specific plans could be discussed at this time.
At CES, Imation displayed two new CD-RW drives, as well as blank media. Shipping in the second quarter are the CD Burn-R 16x write, 10x rewrite and 40x read, and Burn-R 12x, 10x, 32x drives. Pricing was not available.
In the CD burner category Imation is considering developing a combination CD-RW burner/player that would be capable of playing MP3 songs.
