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Sony NEC Optiarc, the joint between Sony's and NEC's optical disc drive business units, last week unveiled its first Blu-ray Disc (BD) burner model, the BD-M100A, for launch in the European market at 600 euro (US$808) in the third quarter, and the price may be an indicator for BD burner pricing by other brands/makers, according to sources from Taiwan-based manufacturers of optical disc drives.

The price of the BD-M100A is about 10% lower than the planned price of a Pioneer BD burner model to be launched next quarter as well, the sources indicated. Since Sony NEC Optiarc and Pioneer are members of the BD Association, their pricing would be a reference for other members, such as Philips, LG Electronics and Samsung, to set prices for BD burners, the sources pointed out....

Although there is room for reduction in the production cost of BD burners, the reduction may not be realized due to a limited supply of BD pick-up heads from only a few makers, including Sony and Sharp, the sources noted. Consequently, retail prices of BD burners are not easy to drop, the sources added.

Source: digitimes