High capacity
IBM 3590 Extended High-Performance Cartridge Tape continues the IBM focus on tape technology by doubling the length and providing twice the capacity of IBM 3590 High-Performance Cartridge Tape. These tape products increase the data storage capacity of half-inch cartridge tape. In addition, both types of cartridges can reside in the same physical space as IBM 3490 cartridges; they can also coexist in an IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Tape Library 3494.

Cost-effectiveness
Higher capacity cartridges can help reduce the amount of equipment as well as the number of cartridges and tape mounts required in the tape environment. A reduction in the number of cartridges required for backup and restore operations can help lower operational costs throughout the enterprise.