Iomega unveils digital audio strategy - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Nov 22, 1999

Iomega Corporation, a leader in smart, portable storage solutions, Tuesday unveiled its broad digital audio strategy, to help music lovers access their favorite digital music anytime anywhere.

New digital music formats like MP3, portable music players and the Internet have created a tremendous opportunity for removable storage solutions. In disclosing its new strategy, Iomega announced its next ZipCD product and that Clik! drives will be featured in MP3 players from several manufacturers. Zip, Jaz and Clik! disks also include a unique serialization feature, which protects copyrighted music when used with the Windows Media Device Manager and Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) devices and applications.

"Iomega's Zip, Jaz and Clik! disks and ZipCD discs are the perfect solution for storing the user's digital music collection and easily transporting music from one computer to another," said David Henry, vice president and general manager, magnetic products, Iomega Corporation. "Unlike other secure digital music solutions that bind music to a hard drive or player, the Iomega solution binds music to a disk. Consumers can move their disks from office to home or from computer lab to dorm room. And with more than 30 million Zip drives and 180 million Zip disks shipped, our products are available just about everywhere."

Microsoft Partnership Iomega Tuesday announced that Iomega will support Microsoft's new Windows Media Device Manager (WMDM). WMDM will allow hardware and software companies to build Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) capable devices and applications that can download music to Iomega's Zip, Jaz and Clik! disks. With unique serialization on the more than 180 million Zip disks in the marketplace, Iomega provides an excellent solution for devices requiring SDMI-compliant portable media.

"Yes" Promotion Music Choice, the world's largest provider of commercial-free digital music is premiering an Internet audio show this month promoting the legendary rock band YES' new album, "The Ladder," coupled with digital downloads of exclusive new cuts and YES classics. Iomega sponsors the 30-minute show and the free downloadable package is available only to Zip disk users at the Music Choice Web site at www.musicchoice.com.

Clik! MP3 Players Iomega is partnering with a number of developers of MP3 audio technology including Addonics, Optomedia Electronics Corporation (OME), Sensory Science and Varo Vision Co. The MP3 players and components with built-in Clik! drives are being demonstrated during COMDEX/Fall 1999. Demonstrations include audio players that hold more than 40 minutes of near CD quality audio on a single 40MB Clik! disk. With inexpensive 40MB Clik! disks, available for an estimated street price of $9.99 (U.S.) each, when purchased in 10-pack, customers can now create an unlimited collection of 40-minute play lists.

Digital Signal Processing Iomega is working with leading component suppliers including Digital Signal Processing (DSP) vendors to support Iomega drives. Enabling the rapid development of new digital audio products that support the secure download of music off the Internet. Programmable DSPs enable digital audio products to easily support a wide range of digital music standards (from MP3 to Windows Media Audio). As new formats become available consumers can easily update their player with a simple download. With these vendors leading the way, Iomega is poised to become the removable storage vendor of choice for the digital music market.

Secure Digital Music Initiative Iomega is an active member of the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI). Iomega supports the SDMI goals of convenient access to quality recordings for consumers, ensuring copyright protection for artists' work, and enabling technology and music companies to build successful business on the Internet. Iomega's Zip, Jaz and Clik! disks include a unique serialization feature, which conforms to the SDMI portable media standards. SDMI compliant digital music players built around Iomega drives and media allow the secure download of music off the Internet while protecting music copyrights.

"Iomega continues to develop initiatives on the digital audio front, and expects to make similar partnership and new product announcements throughout 2000," added Henry. FMI: http://www.iomega.com.