According to DigiTimes, Philips Taiwan Limited has started marketing Philips optical disc drives (ODDs) on its own in the Taiwan clone PC market, aiming to leap into the top three, in terms of market share, in just one year

Philips CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives, as well as Philips CD-RW burners, had previously been sold in the Taiwan market through local sales agents, but Philips Taiwan has decided it will undertake its own local marketing of ODDs, including the selection of retail outlets, the company indicated.

The ODD marketing strategy is to appeal to consumers through a quality guarantee and to keep its retail prices close to competing Taiwan-based brands, Philips Taiwan noted. Consumers in the Taiwan clone PC market are, more than ever now, demanding quality, providing Philips with an opportunity to claim a part of this growing market on the island, the company added.

Philips Taiwan is selling DVD burners such as the 16x Dual DL (single-sided double-layer) model DVDR1620K at the large 3C retail chain Tsann Kuen, with a guarantee that any burner failing to perform writing can be returned to any retail outlet with a 100% refund.

Philips Taiwan plans to offer additional ODD products for sale in the first quarter of 2005, including slim-type Combo drives and DVD-ROM drives, the company said.