[IP] more on Kodak To Stop Selling Traditional Cameras
Delivered-To: dfarber+@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 11:15:49 -0400
From: "Alan A. Reiter" <reiter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [IP] Kodak To Stop Selling Traditional Cameras
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Hi Dave, At the same time Kodak is exiting the film camera business in
North America, it's getting more aggressive entering the wireless
business. Kodak is updating its 24,000 Picture Maker photo printing kiosks
with infrared and Bluetooth capabilities so camera phone users will be able
to transfer files from their phones and print photos. You could also
insert a memory card from your camera phone (or any other digital camera)
to transfer photo files, but that's not new. Also, Kodak says photos can be
printed in five seconds, several times faster than current printing
times. Kodak Mobile is pushing an online photo album for camera phone
users, through its Ofoto service, but it's no big deal. There's a free
90-day trial period and then you have to pay $2.99 a month to store
photos. I'm not impressed. You can store photos for free on many sites --
including Ofoto -- if you don't sign up for a "camera phone"
subscription. Unless Kodak offers a compelling reason to pay a monthly
fee, there's little or no reason to do so. Kodak is working with Nokia
and Cingular to promote its online service and its Picture Maker
kiosks. Two big stumblig blocks to using the kiosks: How many cellular
subscribers have phones with infrared and Bluetooth and what percentage of
these subscribers have ever used infrared or Bluetooth? Kodak, Cingular and
Nokia will have a big job educating subscribers about infrared and
Bluetooth. Also, Bluetooth devices are notorious for their lack of support
for other devices. Perhaps Nokia's participation will ensure that Nokia
Bluetooth/infrared camera phones will work but how compatible will other
vendors' phones be with the Picture Maker kiosks? Offering printing
capability to camera phone users seems like a simple matter -- and it
certainly can work -- but there are "gotchas" that must be dealt
with. I've written several articles about Kodak's wireless efforts in my
Camera Phone Report, including one here:
http://www.wirelessmoment.com/2004/01/kodak_next_mont.html. There's a "big
picture" view of all this: The lowly camera phone is spawning many
opportunities for server and client (handset) software, photo printing,
accessories, etc. This is going to be a huge business, and after 25 years
of analyzing wireless around the world, I'm typically very conservative in
predicting successes in wireless data! Alan --------------------- Alan A.
Reiter, president Wireless internet & Mobile Computing 4924 Bradley Blvd.
Chevy Chase, Md. 20815 E-mail: reiter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Phone:
1-301-951-0385 Weblogs: http://reiter.weblogger.com
http://www.CameraPhoneReport.com Web site: http://www.wirelessinternet.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 08:34:10
To:ip@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [IP] Kodak To Stop Selling Traditional Cameras
Delivered-To: dfarber+@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 22:39:33 +1300 (NZDT)
From: Jonathan Ah Kit <ahkitj@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Kodak To Stop Selling Traditional Cameras
X-X-Sender: <ahkitj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Dave Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Hi Dave
For IP -- ah, the joys of planned obsolescence, a la Stan Freberg's
infamous capitalist plot sketch. :) Or maybe that I've seen far better
35mms for the same prices from other vendors, let alone (IMHO) the pricing
for their digitals...
Have fun
Jonathan
> http://xtramsn.co.nz/technology/0,,7006-2996550,00.html
>
>
> Kodak To Stop Selling Traditional Cameras
> 14/01/2004 10:31 AM
> Reuters
>
> Eastman Kodak Co. says it will stop selling traditional film cameras
> in the United States, Canada and Western Europe, another move by the
> troubled photography company to cut lines with declining appeal in
> favor of fast-growing digital products.
>
> But the Rochester-based company will continue to sell one-time use
> cameras in the West and expand its sales of these and other film-based
> cameras and supplies in markets such as China, India, and Latin
> America, where demand is on the rise.
>
> Shares of Kodak rose in early trade after the announcement, and was
> the biggest percentage gainer among blue chip stocks.
>
> The move comes amid Kodak's controversial plan to focus on high-growth
> digital products, such as medical imaging systems, and reduce
> dependence on its declining film business. Late last year, Kodak said
> it would stop making slide projectors, but continues to manufacture
> color slide films.
>
> Blaming declining demand, the Rochester, New York-based company said
> it would by the end of this year quit making cameras that use the
> Advanced Photo System (APS) format, as well as reloadable cameras that
> use 35-millimeter film.
>
> In 1996, when it was unveiled, Advantix was hailed by Kodak as the
> "most important photographic announcement since Instamatic
> cartridge-loading cameras were introduced in 1963."
>
> APS was developed in tandem with Canon Inc, Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd.,
> Minolta Co Ltd. and Nikon Corp., and aimed at simplifying the use of
> film and enhancing the quality of prints.
>
> Kodak will still make film for existing Advantix and other cameras,
> and intends to introduce new high-performance 35 millimeter and
> Advanced Photo System films next month.
>
> Camera makers typically make little profit - or lose money - on
> hardware, but enjoy strong margins from sales of supplies such as film
> and paper which much be replaced frequently.
>
> Kodak said that it plans to continue making reloadable cameras that
> use 35-millimeter film in emerging markets, such as China, India,
> Eastern Europe and Latin America and that it will introduce six new
> cameras in those markets this year.
>
> Kodak said the 35-millimeter film industry is growing at double-digit
> rates in those markets.
>
> Shares of Kodak rose 37 cents to US$26.70, up 1.33 percent, in active
> New York Stock Exchange trade on Tuesday.
--
Jonathan Ah Kit - Lower Hutt - New Zealand
jonathan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - http://www.ah-kit.dropbear.id.au/
ahkitj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - ICQ#9747234 - http://www.electric.gen.nz/
Away message: Looking for adhesive tape, not Alibrandi.
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