Sony and Matsushita collaborate to bring new high- density, S-AIT tape technology to market * Companies to combine expertise and launch industry first 500GB per

WEYBRIDGE (UK), Nov 2 (PROTEXT/PRNewswire) - Sony Corporationtoday announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd.(MKE), and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (MEI), knownfor Panasonic-brand products, outlining the intention tocollaborate in bringing to market S-AIT - a new data storagetechnology platform based on Sony's Advanced Intelligent Taperecording format and areal densities.S-AIT is based on high-density helical-scan technology utilisingAdvanced Metal Evaporated (AME) media in a single-reel, half-inchcartridge design. The first generation product is expected toyield one-half terabyte of capacity in a single-reel, half-inchtape cartridge, with an expected roadmap capability up to fourterabytes.MKE will provide the market with an alternative manufacturingsource for S-AIT drives, and MEI will serve as an alternativemanufacturing source for S-AIT media."This collaboration agreement for the manufacture and sales of S-AIT products will create a much larger investment base that willallow more products to come to market faster, and providecustomers with greater flexibility in product offerings andsources of supply," said Takao Hiramoto, president for SonyCorporation's Server Solutions Company."Matsushita will utilise its extensive helical-scan manufacturingand design expertise to bring S-AIT drives to market togetherwith Sony starting in 2003," said Takao Kanamura, senior managingdirector for MKE. "It is only high-density helical-scan recordingtogether with Matsushita and Sony's world-class helical-scantechnology leadership that makes the new S-AIT productsfeasible.""Matsushita is pleased to join Sony in this endeavour and applyits extensive media manufacturing and development expertise tosuccessfully launch this unique S-AIT platform to the world-widemarket." said Hiroshi Yokomizo, director of AVC Media BusinessUnit for Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. "We aretargeting to begin media production to coincide with Sony'sintroduction of S-AIT drives next year.""As with any new technology introduction, the collaboration ofcompanies is always a powerful combination for success. The tapestorage market and the customers of tape products can onlybenefit from big partnerships," said Fara Yale, chief analyst atGartner Dataquest. About SonySony manufactures audio, video, communications and informationtechnology products for the global consumer and professionalmarkets. With its music, pictures, game and online businesses,Sony is uniquely positioned to become a leading personalbroadband entertainment company in the 21st century. In EuropeSony recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 14.90 billion (yen1,473,780 million) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001,based on an average market exchange rate for the same period ofyen 98.9 to the EUR. Sony Europe, headquartered at the SonyCenter am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, is responsible for thecompany's European electronics business and registeredconsolidated sales of EUR 10.37 billion for the fiscal year endedMarch 31, 2001.Sony Core Technology & Network Company Europe (CNCE) withheadquarters in Weybridge, UK, markets optical and magneticstorage solutions and recording media, USB WebCams and videomicroscopes and semiconductors and components. The sales channelincludes OEMs and system integrators as well as distributors,corporate resellers and retailers. Sony is the originator or co-developer of a range of digital storage standards, including the3.5-inch floppy disc, the audio CD, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, MO,DDS (digital data storage) tape and AIT (advanced intelligenttape). The company's long expertise with visual technologies hasenabled Sony CNCE to add notebook cameras and fingerprintidentification devices for IT security to its range of products.Please visit our websites: www.sony-cp.com (hardware) andwww.sony-europe.com/media (media).Sony CNCEKirstine DunhillHarvard Public Relationstel. +44 (0) 20 8759 0005 fax +44 (0) 20 8283 4948email: kirstine.dunhill@harvard.co.ukSony EuropeMatthias ColliCorporate Communicationstel. +49 (0) 30 / 2575 5158 fax +49 (0) 30 2575 5174email: matthias.colli@eu.sony.com

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