VM disc provides alternative to Blu-ray and HD DVD

V Media Research has developed an alternative to Blu-ray and HD DVD. The V Media disc is based on blue-laser technology and holds 1GB of data on a 1.5 inch diameter disc.

VM discs use the H.264 codec to provide playback which V Media claims is better quality than DVD playback. Video content is encoded at progressive scan 720 x 576 - 576p.

The discs, which are manufactured by disc replication company, Cinram, are used in the Movie Phone, and handset just announced by India-based Spice.

Movie Phone users can either watch movies on the handset’s 2.8 in screen, or on a TV via the output port.

The VM disc holds 1GB of data on a single layer, and a dual-layer version is planned for 2009. The company is also working on a recordable disc.