Maxell announces a holographic disc with 300GB storage capacity coming 2006.

The theoretical achievable storage capacity is apparently an uncompressed 1.6 TeraBytes per disk and data rates as high as 120 MBPs. Holographic technology is storing data in the whole disc and not just in the surface as DVDs, HD DVD or Blu-ray is doing.

The first generation of holographic media with 300 GB of storage capacity and a 20 MBPs Transfer Rate is scheduled for release in late 2006 by Maxell and it's partner InPhase.

300GB is already more than 10x of Blu-ray or HD DVD capacity. The price for a 300GB holographic disc is supposed to be around $120. Only the Holographic disc reader device is currently an issue with a price of $15,000.

So I guess Blu-ray and HD will have a couple years, before we switch to holographic discs in the consumer electronics and PC area. More details in this Maxell press-release (Thanks Robbie S.)
The Red Herring has some more background information on the new holographic discs

We reported about the small 30GB holographic disc from Optware in June.