Verbatim Corporation has announced that Philips Format Verification Laboratory has certified its new 8.5GB Double-Layer DVD+R (DVD+R DL) media as fully compliant with the DVD+R DL standard. Certification provides drive manufacturers and end users with the assurance that Verbatim's new DVD+R DL media delivers broad compatibility with new DVD+R DL drives and existing DVD playback devices. Limited quantities of Verbatim DVD+R DL-certified discs will ship later this month. Philips, Sony, Dell, HP, and other DVD+RW Alliance members have announced drives that support the DL format.

Double-Layer DVD+R technology was developed by Verbatim's parent company, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM) in collaboration with Philips and other DVD+RW Alliance members. Tim Clatterbuck, Verbatim optical storage manager, acknowledged that even with MKM's advanced technologies, the development of high-quality Double-Layer discs was a significant challenge. "Double-Layer media required new media production materials and processes as well as a major investment in production modifications and new equipment, but we moved aggressively through the startup, yield improvement, and testing/certification phases," he noted. "All of the media produced to date has been delivered to burner manufacturers and software developers for testing before shipments begin for consumers."

Verbatim 8.5GB Double-Layer DVD+R media will begin shipping by the end of May.

www.verbatim.com