e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[Tinroad]

Will You DataPlay?

Will your store soon be carrying DataPlay? It’s the new format developed by DataPlay, Inc. that simplifies the way people connect with digital content they buy and create. The company has accomplished this by developing universal media solution for access to all digital content across all digital devices and platforms.

“The key thing is that it is not a replacement, but an addition” to existing products says PAT QUIGLEY, Sr. VP and chief marketing officer. “It is a different cultural experience,” than the CD.

Besides being portable Dataplay will allow record companies to burn additional albums, bonus tracks, videos, club mixes, etc., on to the disc. This creates the perfect opportunity for an “upsell.” All the consumer needs is the “key” to open the information...and the “key” could be on your store’s Website. It’s an innovative solution to keeping retailers in the loop and adding value for consumers. DataPlay wants to “use the retailer as a distribution point,” says QUIGLEY.

In addition, there is the opportunity for products to use music and artists as part of their branding. For instance, a customer might be able to go to the Nike Website to get the key for song from a new or established artist. But more than music will be available. The disc can accommodate video, unreleased photos, tour schedules, games and more.

The company’s mission is to meet both consumer and industry needs by creating and championing simple and standardized media solution for all things digital. It has received the financial support of leading consumer electronics and content companies such as Universal Music Group, Toshiba Corporation, Samsumg Electronics, S3 Incorporated and Imation Corporation and several others.

DataPlay digital media will be sold as single-sided 250MB discs and double-sided 500MB discs. Blanks discs will retail for between $5 and $12 and will support downloaded Internet published content as well as the transfer and storage of desired content from other sources. Pre-recorded or mastered content on DataPlay digital media will be available from multiple content publishers in all content areas and will retail for about the same cost as comparable music, video, book or software products today.

The DataPlay micro-optical engine is about the size of a matchbook and will be licensed to be incorporated in a variety of consumers electronics devices. These include digital music players, digital cameras, PDA’s, portable games, wireless devices and more. The most important trend this will create will be transforming single-fixed-function devices into multiple-use tools. This means, for example that one device can act as a wireless phone, PDA, music and game player. Using high compression technology DataPlay digital media can hold up to 11 hours of music or combinations of music, images, video, documents, software and other digital content on a single disc.

As digital age moves into Act 2, it seems that record retailers will finally be able to profit from new technology. PETE JONES, President and CEO of BMG distribution and Associated Labels, notes that, ”The feedback from both retail and labels to DataPlay has been overwhelmingly positive.” LARRY KENSWIL, President of eLabs, Universal Music Group adds that, The DataPlay disc is a win for fans, artists and music companies.” Let’s hope it is for record retailers as well.

OVERVIEW:

At the heart of the offering are three categories: DataPlay digital media, DataPlay micro-optical engines and ContentKey, a content, marketing and e-commerce tool.

Key features of DataPlay digital media include:

Universal - Supports all content types and works in all device types;

Pre-recorded content and user recorded content on the same media.

Portable - Allows content access on highly mobile devices such as cell phones PGD’s, portable music players, etc.

Affordable - Significantly lower cost than flash memory with higher capacity; Blank digital media will retail for between $5 and $12.

Simple - One media for all content types including, images, documents, software, games, video and more.

Reliable - Archival optical media without the problems of magnetic media

Secure - Support for secure content and DRM, with permanent recording.

Capacity - 250 and 500 MB with growth potential; 11.5 hours of MP3 or approximately 3 hours of higher and CD quality of music.

Efficient - Low power consumption in both read and write modes of operation

High Speed - Recording data transfer 10 times faster than CD.

Donnie Coleman
http://www.lipservicemag.com/willyou.htm

See also http://www.prostudio.com/oto/sept00/bus_dataplay.html