New Blu-ray Disc Strategy for DVD-R Maker InfoSmart
This is a Press Release edited by StorageNewsletter.com on Mon, March 3rd, 2008
In discussions with Sony and Philips on a Blu-ray disc licensing agreement
In 2007, InfoSmart successfully transitioned several of its DVD production lines to the state of Bahia, Brazil, to capitalize on strong demand from South America. In doing so, InfoSmart opened a local subsidiary, Discobras, based in the state's largest city, Salvador. As a local employer and company operating in the computer information sector, Discobras' VAT rate is only 2.26% versus the standard 12% in Salvador and 18% in Sao Paulo. Discobras is equally exempt from paying import duties ("ICMS") on raw material for production. These materials are valued at 70% to 100% fully loaded costs of DVD imports. Both tax benefits will last through June 2016. The Company now intends to utilize this tax advantage as they prepare to enter the Blu-ray Disc market. The tax incentive available to InfoSmart in Brazil is also applicable to other household electronics, telecommunication equipment, and electronic storage media that would further leverage the competitiveness of its product pricing and avail the company to expand into other technology products covered under the tax benefit.
As it has been widely reported, the Blu-ray Disc format has taken a commanding competitive advantage over the HD DVD format. As of February 19, 2008, more than 450 Blu-ray Disc titles have been released in the U.S. and more than 250 in Japan. Blu-ray was locked in a format war with HD DVD until Blu-ray's victory on February 19, 2008. On that day, Toshiba -- the main driving force behind HD DVD -- announced it would no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. Some analysts believe that Sony's PlayStation 3 video game console played an important role in the format war as the PlayStation system used a Blu-ray disc drive as its primary information storage medium. They also credited Sony's more thorough and influential marketing campaign.
InfoSmart initiated discussions with Sony and Philips on a Blu-ray Disc licensing agreement in January 2008, and the Company continues to make steady progress in these negotiations. Based on the recent events, it is the Company's intent to accelerate the negotiation process with senior management members of Sony. InfoSmart's intent as a provider of Blu-ray Discs is not just to produce blank Blu-ray Discs, but also higher margin duplications of many entertainment films and material for distributors. InfoSmart has done much of this work since 2002 as an authorized dealer with many film distributors in Asia. These distributors have purchased the rights from various U.S. entertainment giants including Viacom, Sony, Paramount, Vivendi, to name a few examples. The Company is making much headway for new agreements with similar firms in Japan, China, Hong Kong and other Asian countries.
InfoSmart is also in discussions with one of the two Blu-ray Disc producing machine vendors to initiate an agreement regarding their Blu-ray production machines, and is currently testing and planning for their installation. InfoSmart has secured the support from their bankers to move forward with this potential purchase with only 5%-10% down payment and a financing to lease with an option to purchase the Blu-ray Disc machines. InfoSmart is capable of adding Blu-ray Disc production lines in the next 4 -5 months. This will enable the Company to retain their competitive advantage as a pioneer in this industry.
InfoSmart has discussed their strategic plan concerning Blu-ray with their current customers in Brazil and other parts of the world. Based on the current DVD market and existing DVD players, the Company foresees there would be at least a 3-5 year period for the current HD DVDs to remain in the market before they are transitioned which will protect current market pricing and the expanding production capabilities of InfoSmart. InfoSmart believes that the change to Blu-ray provides a good opportunity for the Company to make higher profits, while they maintain their competitive edge in leveraging the Brazilian market through their local manufacturing base and tax-driven advantages in the traditional DVD market.
The Company's President and CEO, Parker Seto, is preparing to transition InfoSmart's international markets to the new standard, Blue-ray formatted discs. "The news was not a big surprise to a lot of us in the industry. We have anticipated a 36 to 72 month transition phase and have begun negotiations with several key partners to develop the new standard moving forward," Seto stated. "This time frame will allow InfoSmart to drive existing HD DVD revenues while simultaneously introducing higher margin Blu-Ray DVD products into our sales channels," Seto concluded.
InfoSmart has already initiated its diversification product
strategy
through not only Blu-ray Discs, but also MP4, flash cards,
and other
electronic appliances. Geographically, they are growing
throughout South
America, Europe, Australian, Asia and the U.S. This strategy
will ensure
that the Company will not be over-dependent on any one product,
market or
geographical location.
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