German compact-disc and DVD-equipment company Singulus and Sony Electronics have teamed up to develop a new technology for music and video discs, Reuters reported.
Singulus and Sony are joining forces to develop mass-production equipment to make Blu-ray discs, one of two competing formats to succeed DVDs, as the standard of choice for multimedia discs.
Blu-ray, supported by Sony and other electronics companies such as Samsung and Philips, competes with rival technology HD-DVD, which has the backing of Toshiba and most of the Hollywood studios.
For Sony, the deal means that it has won the backing of one of the largest manufacturers of equipment for replicating DVDs, which will enable production of pre-recorded Blu-ray discs.