Sony Europe announced that its first Blu-ray Disc media will ship in Europe in March 2006. Single-layer BD-RE (Blu-ray Disc Rewritable) media will be available in store from mid March and single-layer write-once BD-R (Blu-ray Disc Recordable) media will be available from April. Sony is also set to launch dual layer discs later this year.

The single-layer Blu-ray Disc Recordable (BNR25A) and Blu-ray Disc Rewritable (BNE25A) media offer a storage capacity of 25GB. The new generation media support 2X speed which equates to a data transfer rate of 72 Mbps (9 MB/s). Sony’s Blu-ray Disc media will feature the AccuCORE™ technology as standard, ensuring reliable data recording, increased disc protection and enhanced durability.

To achieve exceptional reliability and durability for archiving, the Sony BD-R discs utilise a laminar phase separation recording mechanism using inorganic recording material. The BD-RE recording and rewriting mechanism uses advanced phase-change material that alters its reflectivity when a laser changes it from a crystalline to an amorphous state and back.

“Sony is strongly positioned to offer customers an all-embracing, high-definition experience as a result of pioneering activity in the High Definition world. Our range of integrated High Definition equipment, including camcorders, VAIO PCs, televisions and projectors, already covers everything from source to output,� commented Fritz Handtke, Marketing and Operations Director, Sony RME. “We are committed to becoming a dominant player in the Blu-ray Disc media market in 2006. Given our technological expertise, our focus is on providing thrilling new High Definition’s entertainment experiences and the highest capacity PC data storage of any optical format.�