Advanced Intelligent Tape

Advanced Intelligent Tape (AIT) is a discontinued high-speed, high-capacity magnetic tape data storage format developed and controlled by Sony. It competed mainly against the DLT, LTO, DAT/DDS, and VXA formats. AIT uses a cassette similar to Video8. Super AIT (SAIT) is a higher capacity variant using wider tape in a larger, single-spool cartridge. Both AIT and SAIT use the helical scan method of reading and writing the tape.

AIT technology was available in two form factors.

In March 2010, Sony announced the discontinuation of the AIT product line, and renewed collaboration with Hewlett-Packard on further development of the DDS tape format,

One of the most compelling features of the AIT format is that many generations are both backwards and forwards compatible. This allows multiple generations of tape drives to both read and write to multiple generations of tape media.

The AIT format was developed and is controlled by Sony.

Released in 2006 by Sony, available only in libraries, 800 GB native and 45 MB/s sustained transfer rate.

Advance Metal Evaporated is a different formulation of tape media.

Memory in Cassette Memory chip in the cartridge that keeps relevant information about the tape.

Remote - Memory in Cassette Like MIC except it does not require physical contact.

Write Once Read Many functionality, useful for archive keeping.

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