A red laser is used as the reference beam to read servoinformation from a regular CD-style aluminium layer near the bottom.

Possible solutions include improving the sensitivity of the polymer used, or developing and commoditizing a laser capable of higher power output while being suitable for a consumer unit.

InPhase Technologies was developing a rival holographic format called Tapestry Media, which they claimed would eventually store 1.6 TB with a data transfer rate of 120 MB/s, and several companies are developing TB-level discs based on 3D optical data storage technology.

However, in 2006, holographic drives were projected to initially cost around US$15,000, and a single disc around US$120–180, although prices were expected to fall steadily.

[11] General Electric Global Research Centers created a holographic disc that could hold many times the data of a Blu-Ray — up to 500 GB.