Sony Corporation introduces LTO Ultrium4 data cartridge
- 800GB recording capacity and 120MB/s maximum data transfer rate. -

April 25th, 2007

LTO Ultrium4 data cartridge [ LTX800G ]

Sony Corporation is pleased to announce that the LTO TPC (Technology Provider Companies) have awarded it with a qualification and approval to manufacture and sell the fourth generation LTO Ultrium4 data cartridge. The TPC technology consortium companies are Hewlett Packard, IBM and Quantum.

Having received this qualification, Sony is set to launch LTO Ultrium4 into the market at the beginning of May, 2007.

LTO Ultrium4 format is aimed at supporting the ever increasing storage capacity requirements, holding 800GB (native) and 1.6TB (compressed) of data on one cartridge. One does not need to compromise performance with the higher capacity, as LTO Ultrium4 brings data transfer rates of 120MB/s (native) and 240MB/s (compressed).

Features of the LTO Ultrium4 data cartridge

1. LTO4 achieves massive storage capacity by increasing recording tracks (LTO3: 704 -> LTO4: 896) by utilizing a thinner and longer length tape.
2. LTO4 is manufactured with a newly developed fine magnetic particles and a higher thermal stability binder. In order to maximize performance, an improved dispersing technology for the finer magnetic particles was introduced.
3. LTO4 also adopts a newly developed thin-layer coating technology and a smoother surface coating process. This allows the LTO4 cartridge to have a low error rate and stable output under various operating conditions.
4. LTO4 stable magnetic servo signal writing technology and newly-developed high-rigid and high-accuracy cartridge molding technology, offers the higher reliability required by data backup systems by achieving stable write/read characteristics.

“ With increasing demand for high-performance server and mainframe, data cartridge with high recording capacity is required for data backup solution. To respond to these market needs, we introduce LTO Ultrium4 data cartridge, which doubles the storage capacity previously achieved by LTO Ultrium 3 tape. This new data cartridge is a welcome addition to our current line-up.” says Yoshiaki Takigawa, General Manager of Professional & Storage Media Department.

Sony will also introduce the write once LTO Ultrium 4 WORM data cartridge, used to prevent data erasure and alteration, in summer 2007.