History (1996): SyQuest and Nomaï Enemies Becoming Friends

At this year’s CeBIT, expect to see SyQuest Technology (Fremont, CA) and Nomaï (Avranches, France) hand in hand to announce a new standard in removable storage, the Power Disk Cartridge (PDC) with one 3.5-inch platter.

Maxell (Hitachi) and Xyratex are also in on the project.

SyQuest vigorously attacked Nomaï in 1993, claiming that the latter had copied its 44 and 88MB 5.25-inch cartridge technology. The two companies agreed to a truce in 1994.

Things degenerated again in 1995 around the subject of 200MB 5.25-inch cartridges and royalty payments.

In the end, much money and energy were expended in the struggle, something Iomega didn’t seem to mind, as it proceeded quietly along its course without making waves.

Today, the 2 enemies are more or less obliged to unit in a common front vs. Iomega with the PDC standard.

But is it too late? Wouldn’t it at least have made more sense 2 years ago to quietly agree on the present arrangement? The CeBIT press conference will bring together SyQuest president Syed Iftikar and Marc Frouin, Nomaï’s CEO.

This article is an abstract of news published on the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter on issue 98, published on March 1996.