Quanta Storage, the largest maker of slim-type optical disc drives (for use in notebook PCs) in Taiwan, is planning to start volume production of slim-type Blu-ray Disc (BD) burners in the second half of 2007 with such technology to be transferred from Sony through OEM cooperation, according to industry sources.
However, Quanta Storage will adopt pick-up heads produced by Sharp instead of Sony, the sources indicated. Only a few Japanese brands, including Matsushita Electric, Pioneer and Toshiba, are currently producing next-generation blue-laser, either BD or HD DVD, slim-type DVD burners in volume, the sources pointed out. In contrast, Lite-On IT will focus its R&D of BD burners on half-height models (for use in desktop PCs) this year and may kick off production of slim-type models in the first half of 2008, according to the company.