Kodak, Legend to develop digital market
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The world's largest photographic company is joining hands with China's biggest computer supplier in an attempt to dominate the country's rapidly growing digital camera and imaging markets.
Eastman Kodak Co. announced this week that it will set up 1,300 digital-imaging outlets in China by the end of this year, with 300 of those outlets located in stores run by Legend Holdings Ltd., the parent of Legend Computers.
Digital-imaging technology can enhance the quality of traditional photographs and create new products for Kodak's clients, such as personalized calendars and greeting cards.
"The rapidly growing demand for digital imaging-services in China's big cities has attracted an increasing number of investors to tap the nascent market," said Jacky Chan, general manager of Kodak (China) Co. Ltd.'s consumer imaging department.
"The expansion of digital imaging services is a significant part of Kodak's development strategy in China," Chan said.
Liu Jun, senior vice president of Legend, said his company considers digital-imaging services one of its core investment sectors for the next five years.
"We will put more resources into developing digital cameras and speed up our expansion into the digital-imaging service market through our alliance with Kodak, " he said.
Earlier this year, Kodak announced an agreement with China Netcom Co. Ltd., which provides broadband network connection, to explore online processing services.
Japan-based Fuji is also spending a great deal of money to get a toehold in the market.
"We have invested more than 150 million yuan (US$12.05 million) in a promotional and advertising campaign during the past two years," said Sun Dalun, president of Fuji Photo Products Co., the Chinese subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film.
The company plans to increase the number of Fuji digital imaging express stores in China from 300 to 1,000 within the next two years, Sun said.
Wuhan-based Himalaya Digital Imaging Technology Co. Ltd., which hopes to become the largest domestic player in the market, has invested millions of yuan to build digital imaging-service centers in Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan and Shenzhen.
Shanghai Daily news |
