With 1 in 7 pictures taken on a cameraphone being printed at last, especially as cameraphones reach 2 megapixels and beyond, Kodak wants to capture the lion’s share of this lucrative market. Will a new Kodak photo printer being exclusively sold through cellphone stores propel them to even greater cameraphone photo printing success?
With between 15 to 20% of cameraphones sold today coming with a 2 megapixel or greater digital camera functionality (and hundreds of millions more with a 1.3 megapixel or lower quality camera), it should come as no surprise to discover that over 73 billion photos are being taken worldwide every year on cameraphones alone, with that figure projected to grow to an astounding 130 billion photos by 2009.
When you discover that there are over 2.5 billion cellphones are in the hands of consumers worldwide right now, that 73 billion figure makes instant sense, as people love taking photos, especially when it’s digital and there’s no fiddly old-fashioned film to stuff around with. Add that to the fact that your phone is with you almost always, ready to capture an image whenever you desire.
The number of decent quality cellphones with 2 megapixel cameras and greater is set to grow exponentially in the years ahead, with both Nokia and Sony Ericsson offering 3.2 megapixel camera phones now for several months, Nokia due to release the 5 megapixel N95 in Q1 2007, and Samsung offering 10 megapixel camera phones exclusively in the South Korean market.
So to capture as big a slice of the cameraphone photo printing market as possible, Kodak has launched a photo printer that’s exclusively targeted at the camera cellphone market.
Called the Kodak Easy Share Photo Printer 350, it uses dye-sublimation technology, Bluetooth and PictBridge (through USB) to print out excellent quality 4×6-inch photos that come with UV protection, are waterproof and can last for a lifetime.
Retailing for AUD $199 (likely less than US $150), the Photo Printer 350 will be sold exclusively through cellphone stores, with all the major Australian telcos and phone stores to sell the printer, often in bundles along with 2 megapixel or greater cameraphones.
The photo printer will also be demonstrated in phone stores to show the consumer just how easy it is to print photos that you’ve taken on your cell phone, as many consumers are still unaware of the incredible simplicity and speed with which you can have real photos in your hands.
The photo printer offers automatic red-eye reduction, Easyshare software and a 10 pack of paper and dye-sub ‘ink’ so consumers are ready to go when they buy the unit.
The printer is available to purchase outright, but will also be offered to purchase as part of a ‘plan’, as many mobile cell phones are sold today. Pricing per printed photo depends depends on the size of the replacement pack you purchase. So what will it cost per photo to print?
If consumers buy the 160 photo pack, with enough dye-sub ‘ink’ to cover 160 photos, you pay 50c per print. An 80 sheet pack works out a 75c per print, while the 40 sheet pack gives you photos at $1 per print. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars, those in the US or the UK will pay lower figures as per usual.
Over 2000 phone stores are set to carry the new Kodak photo printer, with Australia the vanguard of a global launch. Australia is seen by Kodak as an excellent ‘predictor’ market for global sales, while its integration and proximity with the fast-growing Asia Pacific region sealed the deal for Australia to get Kodak’s new printer first.
The big news here is not that Kodak have a photo printer with Bluetooth, or one for AUD $199, but that they are now heavily targeting cell phone users, not only in upcoming advertising campaigns, but directly in phone stores where most consumers buy their phones.
Given the ease with which I was able to print a photo from my phone via Bluetooth at the launch event earlier today, and the quality photo my 2 megapixel cameraphone is able to capture, Kodak look like being on a real winner with their new cameraphone focus.
And while Canon, HP, Epson and others are unlikely to let Kodak have the market all to themselves, in the final analysis, each company’s market share may well be down to a photo finish!
