Lite-On IT, Taiwan"s largest producer of optical disc drives, will begin to deliver 8x half-height (H/H) DVD Dual burners to Sony in February, according to the company. Sony, because of uncompetitive costs, stopped own production of DVD drives beginning with 8x models late last year. Sony sold three million 8x DVD burners last year and the sales volume may double to six million units this year, Lite-On IT said. If Lite-On IT can absorb all of the OEM orders for 8x DVD burners, the monthly shipments would average 500,000 units, according to the company. However, Lite-On IT thinks that Sony is unlikely to rely on only one OEM supplier.
Lite-On IT could also obtain orders for 8x DVD burners from another international brand vendor next quarter, the company said. Including these orders, Lite-On IT expects to deliver five million DVD burners this year, a jump of 67% from three million shipped in 2003. Market analysts believe Lite-On IT may enjoy record revenues in March.
The mainstream speed of DVD burners will progress from 8x to 12x next quarter and 16x in the second half of this year, according to Michael Gong, general manager of Lite-On IT"s optical disc drive business unit.