The Odyssey system is ideal for a range of data storage environments and applications, and offers notable benefits to small businesses, including ultra-fast speed, high capacity, immediate access to data and drag-and-drop file access, Imation of Oakdale, Minnesota said. The company has made it easier for small offices and home offices to secure, protect, and access their data, Imation said. This announcement also includes expansion of Imation's distribution reach with Marketlink Services Inc., making it easier for users to purchase the Odyssey system, Imation added.

Imation is focused on the development, manufacture and supply of removable data storage products spanning the four pillars of magnetic, optical, flash and removable hard disk storage, the company said.

Marketlink builds sales channels for manufacturers of computer related products in the US. It provides high quality representation, across available channels and throughout the country, the company said. Drawing on its experience and relationships in the industry, it customizes sales, marketing and distribution plans for penetration into desired markets, Marketlink said.

The Odyssey docking station at the core of the Odyssey system is designed to work with the higher-capacity hard disk cartridges of the future, Imation said. The system offers a choice of either an internal or external USB (universal serial bus) docking station, the company said. Rather than compete with the CD-ROM slot, the new internal USB Odyssey docking station is compatible with all standard 3.5-inch floppy drive bays, freeing other bays for optical devices or additional hard drives, it said. The internal docking station is compatible with all current and future Odyssey cartridges, and offers full interchange with other Odyssey devices, including existing external docking stations, Imation added.

All Odyssey docking stations include a full version of the EMC Retrospect software from EMC Corp. for backup and restore that features password protection and government-certified 256-bit AES (advanced encryption standard) encryption, Imation said.

Odyssey removable hard disk cartridges contain a 2.5-inch SATA (Serial-ATA) hard drive, and are available in 40GB (gigabytes), 80GB, 120GB, and 160GB capacities, Imation said. A 250 GB cartridge will also be available in next month, at a MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) of US$ 279.99, the company said.

As SATA drive capacities increase, Imation plans future cartridge expansions. Rugged and ultra-reliable, Odyssey cartridges were tested to successfully withstand a one-meter drop onto a solid surface, and have incorporated electrostatic discharge (ESD) to circumvent data loss caused by static build-up, which often results from cartridge handling and transport, Imation said. In addition, a soft-load and eject mechanism allows cartridges to be loaded with one finger, as well as protects against accidental ejection during data transfer, the company said.

Imation and Marketlink Services, a sales and marketing agency for manufacturers of computer-related products and services, have teamed up to extend the reach of Imation's Odyssey solution, Imation said. Using existing relationships and industry expertise, Marketlink will provide a committed and experienced sales force to establish VAR (value added reseller) relationships, and offer broader end-user sales across the US, the company said.

Imation's Odyssey solution is fast, secure and easy-to-use, making it an obvious choice for today's small businesses, Marketlink Services of Northville, Michigan. With a record of accelerating growth, Marketlink's sales force is committed to helping Imation reach out to and establish new relationships with VARs and end users across the country, the company said.

Imation Odyssey systems are available between the MSRP range of US$ 189 to US$ 299, based on capacity, for an internal or external USB docking station, Odyssey cartridge and EMC Retrospect software, Imation said.

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