The DVD+RW Alliance, whose membership includes top consumer electronics and PC companies, announced the feasibility to make a dual layer DVD+R disc compatible with the dual-layer DVD-ROM standard (DVD9). The dual layer DVD+R disc nearly doubles the storage capacity from 4.7 Gbytes to up to 8.5 Gbytes, while remaining compatible with existing DVD Video players and DVD-ROM drives.
Both layers can be accessed from the same side of the disc, meaning there is no need to turn over the disc to benefit from the extra recording capacity. The DVD+RW Alliance said the new technology would also allow consumers to record DVD quality video up to 4 hours and up to 16 hours in VHS video quality.
Final specifications and the format book are expected to be available this year. First products would follow in 2004.
