These compatibility tests, in which almost all the major manufacturers in the world involved in recordable DVD products (hardware, DVD disc making, PC application software and others) are participating, is expected to positively contribute to the future development of the entire DVD market by enhancing recording and playback compatibility among the products they make.

The compatibility tests have been conducted with the participation of member companies from both the RWPPI Round Robin Test and the RDVDC Compatibility Working Group. The factors to be tested and the schedule for the testing are discussed and implemented through general meetings and individual meetings. Recording and playback compatibility tests, including the examination of evaluation methods, evaluation of physical characteristics and logical characteristics, and confirmation of playback compatibility, have been carried out for all combinations of products of every participating manufacturer. (Note the joint compatibility test schedule attached.)

"To participate in the joint compatibility tests is very important for disc manufacturers because it will ensure stable product quality in the market by confirming compatibility among the products of the major hardware manufacturers in the world," said Mr. Hideo Kobayashi, Senior Manager, Patent Engineering Group, TDK Corporation.

"The whole DVD industry will benefit greatly from the fact that recording and playback compatibility can be examined in these tests using the hardware from major manufacturers in the industry," said Mr. Nobuyasu Kikuchi, Electrical Manager, Sony Corporation. "In particular, we hardware manufacturers can confirm the compatibility of a product during the development process before releasing it into the market."

"It is extremely useful for our product development that compatibility can be examined in a very effective manner because there are so many kinds of hardware and media," said Mr. Nobuhiro Tokushuku, Chief Specialist, Development Division, Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc. "It would be quite impossible for a company to do this on its own. This is the major benefit of the joint compatibility tests."

The RWPPI and RDVDC plan to continue with these joint compatibility tests and improve compatibility of even higher speed media of the DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM recordable DVD formats that are anticipated in the future.

     * RW Products Promotion Initiative (RWPPI) http://www.rwppi.com
           The RWPPI aims at the effective popularization and promotion of
           related products based on DVD-R and DVD-RW standards that allow
           recording and playback of DVD discs. The organization strives to
           achieve high levels of customer satisfaction by proposing a range
           of standard specifications and ensuring hardware/software
           compatibility related to DVD-R and DVD-RW products.

     * Recordable DVD Council (RDVDC) http://www.rdvdc.org
           The RDVDC was established in April 2001 with the aim of
           popularizing and promoting recordable DVD products which comply
           with the recordable DVD standards (DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW)
           specified by the DVD Forum.  Its activities include information
           exchange among member companies, compatibility promotion
           activities, and cooperative product promotion at exhibitions.

Example of the Joint Round Robin Compatibility Test Schedule for DVD recorders/players/PCs Under Way

    2003

    September
    Plan the test evaluation methods and implementation schedule

    October - December
    Compatibility tests for recording/rewriting/editing by DVD recorders and
     PC authoring application software

    2004

    January - February
    Playback compatibility tests by DVD players and PC playback application
     software

    March
    Evaluation and summary of test results