Optiarc

{{Short description|American brand of data storage drives}}

{{Use American English|date=October 2020}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox brand

| logo = Optiarc.svg

| logo_upright = 0.45

| image = Sony Optiarc AD-7240S.jpg

| alt = A standard optical drive, with a black bezel, not installed in a computer

| caption = Sony Optiarc DVD drive AD-7240S

| currentowner = Vinpower

| previousowners = Sony, NEC

| country = US (since 2017)

Japan (2006-2013)

| introduced = {{start date and age|2006|4|3}}

| discontinued = March 2013 (Sony Optiarc)

| producttype = {{Unbulleted list|Optical disc drives|Solid-state drives}}

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

Optiarc is a brand of optical disc drives and solid-state drives.{{cite web |title=Optiarc Offers New Line of Robust SSD, Preventing Data Loss and Failures Due to Latent Flash Issues |url=https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/category/news/optiarc-offers-new-line-of-robust-ssd-preventing-data-loss-and-failures-due-to-latent-flash-issues/ |access-date=October 16, 2020 }} It is owned by a US-based Vinpower Digital, Inc.

Initially Optiarc was established on April 3, 2006 as a joint venture between Sony (55% shares) and NEC (45% shares). The company, named Sony NEC Optiarc, focused on manufacturing optical disk drives primarily for the OEM desktop and notebook PC markets.

On September 11, 2008, it was announced that Sony would take over NEC's 45% share, making Optiarc a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony,{{Cite web |url=http://www.sonynec-optiarc.com/company/index.html |title=Sony Optiarc |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218151311/http://www.sonynec-optiarc.com/company/index.html |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead }} to be called Sony Optiarc. This took effect on December 5, 2008{{cite web |url=http://www.sonynec-optiarc.com/company/principles.html |title=Sony Optiarc |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124141957/http://www.sonynec-optiarc.com/company/principles.html |archive-date=January 24, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

In March 2013, Sony closed its Optiarc optical disc drive division,{{cite news|last=Crothers|first=Brooke|title=Sony to exit PC-use optical drives, say reports|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57501393-92/sony-to-exit-pc-use-optical-drives-say-reports/|access-date=May 22, 2014|newspaper=CNET|date=August 27, 2012}}{{cite news|last=Carter|first=White|title=Sony Optiarc closed, the subsidiary that manufactures optical drives|url=http://technewspedia.com/sony-optiarc-closed-the-subsidiary-that-manufactures-optical-drives/ |access-date=May 22, 2014 |newspaper=Technewspedia |date=August 27, 2012}} laying off about 400 employees globally.

In 2017, an American company, Vinpower Digital, whose main business is manufacturing optical disc and other media duplicators for the commercial market, acquired the rights to the Optiarc brand and product line.{{cite web |url=https://www.myce.com/news/u-s-company-vinpower-digital-claims-resurrecting-optiarc-cddvd-burner-brand-82160/ |title=U.S. Company VinPower Digital Claims to Be Resurrecting Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Brand |first=Jan Willem |last=Aldershoff |date=June 19, 2017 |website=Myce.com |access-date=October 16, 2018 }} The brand PioData is also owned by Vinpower Digital.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.piodata.com/about |website=PioData.com |publisher=Vinpower Digital |access-date=October 16, 2020}}