Sony and NEC have officially signed an agreement which would merge both of their respected optical drive businesses. With the agreement Sony will control 55 percent of the company while NEC will control the other 45 percent. The company, named Sony NEC Optiarc Inc., will begin manufacturing merged optical drives this spring.

The kicker, Sony is one of the leaders of the Blu-Ray movement, while NEC has publicly backed the HD DVD format. Even though both of the new formats are engaged in a heated battle to the death, Sony has already said that they may produce HD DVD drives alongside their Blu-Ray drives.

Sony, NEC To Form "Optiarc" Drive Business [Extremetech]

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