History 2003: Tandberg Storage Works on Own LTO Drive

In a conference held last November, Tandberg Storage announced it was launching the development of a new low-cost LTO drive of its own design, using adapted SLR technology features and modules.

The final working prototype is expected later this year with first product release in 2005.

As further confirmation, note that Tandberg Storage is listed among the LTO Consortium’s licensees.

It’s a clever idea to take advantage of the expanding LTO market by offering a more economical version.

No doubt, however, this new move is raising eyebrows at Quantum, for which Tandberg Data distributes competing SDLT drives in Europe, in an agreement dating back to 1998.

Tandberg Storage, formerly Tandberg Technology, is a Tandberg Data spin-off focused on new tape drive technology. The parent company retains a 20% stake in Tandberg Technology, which in turn owns 93.5% of OMass (the remaining 6.5% are held by Imation).

This article is an abstract of news published on issue 193 on February 2004 from the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter.