Sun Microsystems and Imation today announced an agreement to jointly develop and launch an extension to the Sun StorageTek T9840 drive platform. The planned fourth generation T9840D will increase the native capacity of tape cartridges to 75GB while maintaining fast access. Sun's StorageTek T9840D enterprise tape drive leverages the existing 9840 media platform. Customers will be able to protect their investment and extend their current media life with backward read compatibility to any 9840 media version. Additionally, the T9840D is equipped with the feature of device-level encryption for written cartridges.

"The combination of Sun's drive and library expertise with proven Imation media and cartridge innovations have allowed 9840 technology to deliver faster access to data and optimized throughput, said Nigel Dessau, vice president and general manager, Tape Business Unit - Storage Group, Sun Microsystems."

The Sun StorageTek T9840D tape drive is expected to be available in 2007. Additional information will be released at the time of product availability.