Tandberg Data debuts world's smallest LTO-2 drive.

InoStor Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tandberg Data ASA (OSE:TAD), has announced the industry's fastest and most compact half-height LTO Ultrium 2 tape drive. The Tandberg 420LTO backs up 200GB (native capacity) at 24MB/s (native) inside a space-saving 5 1/4-inch half-height design, and features the best cost per gigabyte ratio and lowest power consumption of any LTO Ultrium format drive on the market.

The Tandberg 420LTO is the first generation of Tandberg Data's planned five-generation roadmap of low-cost half-height LTO technology offering users backward compatibility and scalability up to 3.2 terabytes compressed on a single LTO cartridge. The 420LTO will be available on April 1 through InoStor-authorized distributors and resellers.

"Since LTO tape technology first started shipping in September 2000, it has grown from 20,000 units in that first year to more than 300,000 units in 2004," (Gartner Inc., Forecast: Tape Drives Worldwide, 2004-2008, Fara Yale, 11 June 2004.) commented Fara Yale, Gartner Inc. research vice president. "Multiple manufacturers of LTO drives are now targeting the SMB market segment where data protection requirements continue to grow exponentially. In order to succeed in this segment, the technology must offer attractive cost/GB, compact size and low power consumption that fits systems designed for this market."

"As a result of our long-term commitment to tape technology, we have consistently delivered outstanding benefits to the end user," said Ken Cruden, InoStor chief operating officer. "While LTO tape technology has captured a significant share of the enterprise market, we believe the Tandberg LTO-2 half-height drive will provide an entry into LTO technology for the small to medium business."

The Tandberg 420 LTO is designed, developed and manufactured by its associate company Tandberg Storage. Tandberg Storage, a license holder of the LTO Consortium (www.lto.org), is licensed to develop and manufacture LTO tape drives. The new drive has passed the LTO Consortium's compliance verification process, is fully compatible with all other LTO-2 drives and media and also offers backward read/write compatibility to LTO-1, providing LTO users an upgrade path to ensure their investment protection.

"Tandberg Data has a long history in developing and marketing tape drives," said Robert Amatruda, research manager at IDC. "Tandberg leverages this know-how with its new LTO-2 half-height drive."

Street price for the Tandberg 420LTO Tape Drive is estimated to be $1,995. The 420LTO comes as a bare drive and as internal and external kits including tape cartridge, SCSI cable, terminator and documentation. The internal and external kits are also available as a tape storage solution with easy-to-use backup application software.

Tandberg Data ASA is a profitable, leading global supplier of professional tape information storage products. Tandberg Data was established in 1933 and has been an innovator in the storage industry for over 25 years. Tandberg Data has partnerships with the world's leading system and application-based OEMs and markets its products through a worldwide channel sales network. In addition to marketing in the Americas through InoStor, Tandberg Data also has subsidiaries in France, Germany, Norway, Singapore and Japan, as well as affiliate offices in India and China (PRC).