HP and Philips Jointly Develop Tape-cartridge Memory for Ultrium-format Products - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Nov 8, 1999

Hewlett-Packard Company and Philips Semiconductor Gratkorn Monday announced that they have developed a chip-based tape-cartridge memory for future Ultrium-format products -- ultra-high-capacity data-storage solutions based on the recently announced Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology.

This evolution in cartridge technology will enable the profile and history of a tape cartridge to be recorded and interrogated without the need for any physical contact between the tape and reader. This will offer Ultrium-format users significant performance advantages, such as faster backup, access and restore times, especially in automated tape libraries. The cartridge memory also offers notable quality and supportability enhancements due to reduced tape wear and diagnostic capabilities.

"We are very proud to work with HP on this new technology, as the Ultrium format is an absolute milestone in the data-storage industry," said Dirk Morgenroth, marketing manager, Philips Semiconductor Gratkorn. "We have once again proven our leadership in the radio-frequency identification technology market with this new high-volume application and bring HP the performance advantages that make the difference in a business-critical application such as storage."

Philips Semiconductors has already applied the contactless card technology to other sectors, including phone cards and public-transport ticketing, and has been working with HP for some time to develop the cartridge memory chip for the Ultrium format. This development again illustrates HP's commitment to the development and success of applying proven, state-of-the-art technologies to the Ultrium format.

"Philips Semiconductors is a worldwide market leader in the development and manufacture of contactless information technology and has a second-to-none track record in its commitment to providing high-quality, leading edge components," said Jack Trautman, general manager of HP's Computer Peripherals Bristol division. "HP's goal is to work only with the best suppliers in their field of expertise for the development and supply of Ultrium components. Driven by this goal, Philips was an obvious choice." Ultrium-format Cartridge Memory

The cartridge memory provides an intelligent interface embedded in the tape cartridge that records drive and cartridge information normally recorded on the tape header.

-- Performance -- The addition of cartridge memory means there is no contact between the tape and tape drive. A reader mounted on the picker arm can perform a full interrogation of the profile of a cartridge in a fraction of the time it would take to load and unload individual tapes.

-- Reliability -- Because power and data are transferred by RF interface, there is no contact between the reader and the cartridge. There are no contact points subjected to wear, and reliability is thereby increased.

-- Improved diagnostics -- The cartridge memory retains information on tape usage, such as the number of times loaded. This enables the drive to predict possible problems well in advance and helps identify issues for support services. About Licensing of Ultrium Ultrium tape-cartridge and tape-mechanism specifications are being offered on a licensee basis. Requests for licenses and additional information are being handled by the law firm of Ladas & Parry of Los Angeles, which can be reached by phone at (213) 934-2300, by fax at (213) 934-0202, or by e-mail at LTO_INFO@ladasparry.com.

Further information about LTO technology can be found on the LTO Web site at www.lto-technology.com.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world. Philips Semiconductors is a leader with a proven reputation in the development and production of cryptocontroller and contactless smart card ICs as well as in components for radio frequency identification. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by regional application labs.

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.

HP plans to launch Agilent Technologies as an independent company by mid-calendar 2000. Agilent consists of HP's test and measurement, semiconductor products, chemical analysis and healthcare solutions businesses, and has leading positions in multiple market segments.

HP has 123,500 employees worldwide and had total revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.