PRESS RELEASE                                               OVATION DATA SERVICES, INC.      

Data Storage Division

Ovation Data Services Is First to Purchase New Sony PetaSite SAIT-Based Library

That Will Give Customers Storage Flexibility and Scalability

Up to a New Massive Level of 1.26 Petabytes

Ovation customers can exploit SAIT technology in new PetaSite library

for more than double the storage capacity of similar sized libraries on the market

HOUSTON, TX, March 31, 2003 – The Data Storage Division, of Ovation Data Services, Inc. (Ovation), today announced it is the first to purchase the new Sony PetaSite® CSM-200B mass storage tape library, based on SAIT technology. The new PetaSite CSM-200B library has up to 108 terabytes (TB) native capacity in a single 19-inch cabinet, with a scalable total native capacity up to 1.2 petabytes (PB).

With the new PetaSite SAIT library, Data Storage Division of Ovation (Ovation DSD) customers can get more than double the storage capacity currently provided by existing libraries on the market, and tremendous flexibility to meet their future storage demand needs.

            “We are pleased to be among the first to purchase this new-generation SAIT-based library from Sony. All data has different access needs, and Ovation DSD is committed to providing each of its customers with best-of-breed solutions for those different access needs. As one of the earliest adopters, we can advance-test the PetaSite library for compatibility with our existing products and solutions to ensure that our customers receive the best total design and deliverables to meet their near-line and mass storage needs,” said Gerald Johnson, General Manager of the Data Storage Division of Ovation.

            “Sony has collaborated with Ovation DSD for backup and HSM applications to the oil and seismic market for many years. With their purchase of our new PetaSite SAIT library, they continue to demonstrate their support in and encouragement of the advancement of leading-edge Sony storage technologies,” said Tom Yuhas, director of data systems solutions for Sony Electronics’ Business Systems & Solutions Company.

            “With this new, highly-scalable library, and with the lower cost per megabyte (MB) of storage when using SAIT tape, and in addition to SAIT’s fast loading and data transfer technology, our customers can gain tremendous flexibility and advantages in their choice of storage solutions. We are expecting that many of our enterprise-class customers, such as those at research laboratories and oil exploration and production companies, as well as our government customers, whose knowledge of and need for best-of-breed near-line storage and access solutions, will welcome the option to implement this new library in their end-to-end data lifecycle management plans,” said Johnson.

Pricing and Availability

            Ovation DSD expects testing and integration of the PetaSite CSM-200B library into Ovation DSD’s customer solutions to be completed by July 2003. List pricing for the library is expected to begin at $103,000 for a two-drive system. Additionally, Ovation DSD will add the new Sony PetaSite SAIT library to its on-going first-level support program.

About the Data Storage Division of Ovation Data Services, Inc.     

            The Data Storage Division of Ovation was founded in 1995, as a result of customer demand for integrated storage solutions. Ovation DSD was a natural progression of storage service offerings based on the skills and experience acquired over many years by Ovation. Today, Ovation DSD provides design, testing, installation and support for integrated storage solutions for customers worldwide. More information about Ovation DSD can be found at www.ovationdata.com/dsd or by email request to dsd@ovationdata.com.

About Ovation Data Services, Inc.

            Founded in 1976, Ovation Data Services, Inc., headquartered in Houston, TX, is a highly regarded world leader in digital data management and preservation, and information technology system solutions. With service and technology centers in the United States and the United Kingdom, Ovation has provided services and solutions for over 1500 companies. These customers count on Ovation daily to help protect and manage their company records and information assets. More information on Ovation Data Services can be found at www.ovationdata.com or by email request to info@ovationdata.com.

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Editor’s Note: Additional Sony product information is available by visiting http://www.sony.com/datasystems.  Additional press information and digital images are available on the Sony Electronics News and Information Web site at http://www.sony.com/news