By Kim Yoo-chul
Staff Reporter

Samsung Electronics is expected to accelerate its ongoing efforts to strengthen Blu-ray products since Toshiba virtually pulled the plug on its HD DVD products.

``Samsung is expected to show more interests in Blu-ray products than rival HD DVDs,’’ according to a Samsung official on Sunday.

Industry sources have said Toshiba is highly likely to shut down its HD DVD business early this week, ending the ``survival game’’ over the next-generation format against Sony- and Samsung-led Blu-ray technology.

Samsung officials have declined to further comment. However, industry insiders said the company has secured a solid momentum to propel its products armored with next-generation formats.

``Samsung, which has been adopting a dual-strategy for both Blu-ray and HD DVD products, is likely to cut the HD DVD portion because of aggressive marketing and closer industry connections over the technology,’’ a market expert said.

Samsung Electronics has been introducing Blu-ray players and recorders and it has a competitive edge over the advanced technology with its patents.

Since major media contents moguls including Warner Bros. have recently decided to release HD DVDs exclusively in Blu-ray backed by Sony and Samsung Electronics, Toshiba fired back by cutting its HD DVD player prices by as much as half in the United States _ the world’s largest consumer electronics market.

However, the hoped-for consumer sales increase was never realized as larger U.S. retailers supported Blu-ray format products.

HD DVD players are less costly and is more advanced in implementing new features such as Internet content, while Blu-ray players are just strengthening new interactive features, Internet connectivity and picture-in-picture capability.

The fight between Blu-ray and HD DVD, including Microsoft and Intel, has mirrored the struggle between Betamax and VHS to dominate video tapes.

yckim@koreatimes.co.kr