Call/Recall develops terabyte DVD-like discs

Storage firm Call/Recall today revealed the 2-photon disc, a new approach to optical storage that could dramatically increase the amount of space for HD movies and other forms of extra-large content. Rather than burn two-dimensional pits as with every optical format from Laserdisc through to Blu-Ray and HD DVD, the photonic system creates 3D spaces on the disc. The third axis creates a near-exponential amount of extra space. A 5.25-inch disc can hold 1TB -- 40 times the space of a single-layer Blu-Ray disc and 200 times that of a DVD, the company says.

As the technology can use stock recording parts similar to those used for mass-producing DVDs and Blu-Ray discs, however, the 2-photon format should be relatively easy to implement, expanding on existing factories and even using similar discs for the upgrade. The capacity could also allow for new storage formats such as a one-inch 50GB disc for larger cellphones and portable game systems.

Licensing begins today for the format, which has yet to see commercially available drives available; discs will be ready soon afterwards and in the long term should scale up to multiple terabytes on a single disc.