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The two companies' joint research project deployed LTH (low to high) technology to create the write-once recordable discs for data storage.

There will be cost savings because the new discs can be manufactured on modified CD and DVD production lines. Previously BD-R discs could only be made using using inorganic dyes that required completely new manufacturing facilities.

On the downside, existing BD-R drives cannot read the new discs, though it is hoped it may be possible to address this with a firmware update.

The first dedicated LTH BD drives are expected to be on the market in the first half of 2008; a Pioneer prototype (pictured) can currently burn 25GB discs at 1x and 2x, but 4x is planned and 6x hoped for.