Iomega today announced the launch of its latest addition to the REV backup drive line: the REV 120GB. Set for a worldwide release in April, the third-generation REV product nearly doubles the capacity of its predecessor, the REV 70GB.

First introduced in 2004, the REV line has been aimed firmly at small-business users. Iomega positions the drive as an alternative to tape, due to its removable discs. According to the company, the REV features speed up to five times as fast, 20 percent more native capacity, a much longer shelf life, and lower productions costs than tape.

"Compared to entry-level tape products like LTO-1 and DAT160 format tape drives, the new REV 120GB Backup Drive offers more native capacity, near instantaneous random access to files, faster backups and restores, and ruggedized cartridges - all at a much better drive price," the company's COO, Tom Kampfer said in a release issued this morning. "In addition, REV drives offer today's multimedia enthusiast a limitless storage solution for libraries of content with each 120GB REV disk holding approximately 48,000 photos, 2000 hours of music or 12 hours of high-definition video."

Pricing for the drive has yet to be announced, but the Iomega representative I spoke with assured me that the list price would be competitive with that of the REV 70GB, which will likely see a pricing drop as a result. For those looking to make the switch, the 120GB is backward compatible with older models.