A38 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. started to sell its next-generation game player, PlayStation 3 (PS3) in Japan and the United States in November 2006, but the launch in Europe was postponed until March 2007. PS3 terminals have BD drives and memory chips that allow them to read the BD-ROM (read-only memory) at double normal speed, and play movie BDs.

Bill Gates, chairman of the U.S. software company Microsoft Corp., announced in a January 2006 speech delivered in Las Vegas that Microsoft planned to sell an external HD DVD drive for its Xbox 360 game player. Although the step will have a limited effect on overall market penetration since the drive is external, it will still be a plus for the HD DVD camp.

(a) 1552f.l:
(b) 2552f.l:
(c) 3552f.l:

Escalating mergers and acquisitions