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Go To | Data Storage Press Releases |
Network Storage Libraries, New LS-120 Drives and Software Bolster Presence
HANNOVER, Germany -- (March 13, 1997) - Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN), the new imaging and information company recently spun off from 3M, made several key announcements this week that illustrate the company's goal of becoming the world's leading supplier of integrated solutions for information management, company officials said today.
As the manufacturer and marketer of 3M-brand data storage products, Imation is the world's leading supplier of branded, removable data storage media," said Michael Sheridan, vice president, operations, Imation. "The initiatives we're announcing this week are evidence of Imation's commitment to leverage that leadership position to develop and market integrated solutions not only for computer users and IT professionals, but also Imation's imaging customers in the printing, publishing, graphic arts, medical imaging and photographic markets."
The announcements are an indication of Imation's plan to aggressively enter markets where it is currently underpenetrated, including network storage hardware and software, Sheridan added.
Imation and TeraStor to Develop Near Field Recording Media
On Monday, Imation announced a joint development and business agreement with TeraStor Corporation (San Jose, Calif.) to develop media for a new class of rewritable mass storage based on TeraStor's breakthrough Near Field Recording technology.
The agreement provides Imation with a semi-exclusive and long-term license to manufacture based on the new technology. The first products using this technology are expected to feature user capacities of approximately 20 GB with performance comparable to hard disk drives. Product introduction is targeted for the first half of 1998.
According to Imation officials, Near Field Recording technology creates a new category of multi-purpose mass storage technology, leveraging a unique combination of hard disk and optical technologies. This new class of storage technology should provide end users with significant improvements in performance, a sustainable 10-fold capacity advantage and a lower cost-per-gigabyte than current storage options.
Imation and Storage Technology Corp. to Develop New Data Storage Platform
Storage Technology Corp. (NYSE: STK) and Imation announced this week that they have signed an agreement to co-develop a new data storage platform that they expect will provide users of WindowsNT, UNIX and mainframe computing applications with significant improvements in price/performance over existing technologies.
When commercialized, the new tape drive/cartridge solution will maintain compatibility with StorageTek's existing automation systems and simplify selection of data storage technology across a variety of operating environments, hardware platforms and end user applications, officials from the two companies said.
The new platform is expected to provide a clear migration path for future advancements in capacity, transfer rate and access time, company officials added. Product details, pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.
Imation Announces Automated Tape Library Line
Imation today announced the first model in a family of automated tape backup systems. The initial offering, the Imation ITL 2225, provides PC servers supporting from 30 to 100 clients the ability to automatically back up, archive and restore data on DDS-2 data tapes.
To be available April 1, the ITL 2225 initiates a line of Imation library storage devices to be unveiled over the next five months that will integrate Travan, MLR and DDS-3 drive technologies. The designator "ITL" stands for Imation Tape Library and will be used in the names of future products. The ITL 2225 has a suggested list price of US$8,495 and will be available with an optional barcode reader.
The Imation ITL 2225 contains robotics developed by Storage Technology Corp. and includes a 60-day trial package of the market-leading ARCserve and InocuLAN family of backup and antivirus solutions from the Cheyenne division of Computer Associates International, Inc.
New Imation Software Enhances LS-120 Technology System Performance
Imation today announced the development of a performance-enhancing software product for LS-120 diskette technology.
The software, named LS-120 Performance Accelerator, employs data caching and buffering to enable users of LS-120 drives and diskettes to experience system performance levels similar to that of hard disk drives in most operations under Windows 95. LS-120 Performance Accelerator is slated for commercialization in April 1997.
Now being demonstrated to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), LS-120 Performance Accelerator can be integrated seamlessly into the systems of PCs shipping with standard LS-120 drives and is expected to also be available as an aftermarket product under the Imation brand.
LS-120 Diskette Technology Gains More Support From Mitsubishi, Vobis
Mitsubishi Electronics America, Inc., today announced that Mitsubishi Electric Corporation will be offering a new slimline version of its LS-120 floppy disk drives for notebook personal computers (PCs) this summer. LS-120 technology was co-developed by Imation, which manufactures and markets the 3M-brand LS-120 Diskette.
Samples of Mitsubishi's new slimline LS-120 floppy drives will be available in June 1997 with mass production scheduled to begin the following month. The new slimline LS-120 design measures 12.7 mm (height) x 96 mm (width) x 126 mm (depth) and weighs only 175 grams, making it ideal for replacing existing floppy drives in notebook PCs.
In a separate announcement, Vobis AG today unveiled plans to integrate LS-120 drives in its Highscreen commercial PC line in late spring 1997. The announcement was made today at CeBIT.
One of Europe's leading retail chains and market leader in Germany, Vobis becomes the latest company to join the broadening industry support for the LS-120 high-capacity diskette storage solution. Vobis will display its LS-120-equipped Highscreen PC models at its booth at CeBIT.
Other companies that offer products based on LS-120 technology or have announced plans to do so include Compaq Computer Corp. (NYSE: CPQ), Siemens Nixdorf, Fujitsu ICL, Matsushita-Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. (MKE), O.R. Technology, Hitachi-Maxell, Ltd., and Kaifa Group.
Tape-it Software Now Available Under the Imation Brand
Imation today announced the availability of Tape-it Software via its global distribution network, including retail outlets such as COMP USA, effective April 1.
Tape-it, tailored for use with Imation's Travan minicartridge technology, enables new functionality for users of minicartridge drives who have traditionally used minicartridge drives for backup and restore applications under Windows 3.X and Windows 95. Imation licenses 10 of the world's leading storage companies to manufacture and market products based on Travan technology.
Tape-it is available at a suggested list price of $59.95. To obtain a "lite" version of the software, users can access the Imation web site at http://www.imation.com/tape-it and follow the instructions for downloading. "Tape-it Lite" includes the basic features of Tape-it.
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