New Blu-Ray Technology Set for Release in Japan

Sony Corp. (TYO: 6758, NYSE: SNE), will launch four new models of the highly anticipated Blu-Ray high-definition optical disc recorders on November 8, but only in Japan.

Sony, along with Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd are partners in promoting the Blu-Ray technology. However, Sony's competition with the HD DVD format, backed by Toshiba Corp and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT), continues to heat up.  

Blu-Ray is capable of storing up to 16 hours of high-definition programs on a dual-layer, 50-gigabyte Blu-ray disc. Blu-Ray models launched last year were unable to record on a dual-layer disc.

The most expensive machine out of the four models comes equipped with a 500-GB hard disk drive. This specific model is expected to sell for about 200,000 yen ($1,752), which is quite similar in pricing to Toshiba's HD DVD recorder.

In favor of the Blu-Ray format, video rental chain Blockbuster Inc., the largest provider of home movie entertainment in the U.S., has joined the band wagon in an effort to increase sales. But, Viacom Inc.’s partnering companies has signed a deal that confirms that over the next 18 months movie discs will be in HD DVD format, pulling them ahead of the race.

On the other hand, Sony was expecting that its PlayStation 3 videogame system, which is equipped with a Blu-Ray player, would give the Blu-Ray camp the edge it needed against the HD DVD format.

But the PS3 has decreased in sales due to Nintendo Co Ltd's (TYO: 7974, NASDAQ: NTDOY) launch of the Wii and the PS3's relatively high price and scarcity of strong game titles.

Sony still believes there is hope in the near future for the release of its new Blu-Ray technology. The company strongly anticipates the new disc recorder to be a nice Christmas stocking stuffer, with hopes of overseas sales dates to be announced at a later time.

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