Apple Computer said it supports Blu-ray format of Sony Corporation which was chosen for the next generation of DVDs in an attempt to penetrate the US market.

Blu-ray said in its yesterday’s statement that Apple joined the Blu-ray Disc Association’s board. The company’s profits are expected to rise on the move as it is one of the biggest DVD software makers over the globe.

"Apple is pleased to join the Blu-ray Disc Association board as part of our efforts to drive consumer adoption of HD," Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, said in a statement on the Blu-ray Web site.

Blu-ray’s capacity of current discs is five-fold higher than the capacity of the HD-DVD standard. Apple is expected to help in holding the standard.

"Capacity is everything. In capacity, Blu-ray is much better," said Ted Schadler, an analyst at Forrester Research.