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Weekly UpdatesFew trends in electronics have taken the consumer market by storm like digital imaging. Nearly 300 million digital image capture devices are expected to be in use worldwide by the end of 2004, according to estimates from InfoTrends Research Group. Of these devices, camera phones will account for about 60 percent of the market, followed closely by digital cameras.
In 2003 digital camera sales grew by 64 percent over 2002 figures to more than 50 million units, according to Photo Marketing Association estimates, with anecdotal reports of some users bringing their photo printers to weddings to surprise newlyweds with photos of the event before they leave on their honeymoon.
About 57 percent of digital camera users are also reporting that they print more because of digital imaging, InfoTrends research also showed.
Cell phones with embedded cameras have been the mobile industry's hottest sellers in 2003. Sales of these phones are expected to surge more than 50% to 165.2 million units worldwide within the year, according to research group Strategy Analytics.
In this robust sales environment Nokia is preparing to launch its Nokia 7610 in Latin America within summer 2004, as part of the company's movement toward providing phones with improved imaging capability and camera quality, said Yolande Pineda, Nokia's director of communications for Latin America.
"The 7610 represents a new way for users to enjoy the imaging experience within a very attractive design," she added. "Because mobile phones are very personal products and represent users' different expressions of their personalities, Nokia is careful to balance all of the elements important to them--not just an imaging capability. But with the 7610, users can appreciate a great design along with excellent imaging capabilities and multiple smartphone features."
The Nokia 7610, which is the company first megapixel camera phone, is encased in a fashionable dual-tone ruby and onyx covers. It offers quick and convenient capturing, printing, storing and sending of photo quality images and videos, in addition to the ability to create a personal logbook or multi-media memo on the phone.
Already popular in Latin America, the Nokia 3200 phone with an integrated camera, a large color screen and multi-media messaging service also allows users to design their own covers. The transparent front and back covers of the phone serve as frames for custom designs and images taken from the phone's camera can be used as designs for the covers.
"Most important to those who have phones with imaging capability is the ability to share a moment with someone who is not with them," said Pineda. "The next step consumers will likely move toward is the use of real time video routinely on the phones. In Latin America, we are already seeing 'voicestreaming'--the ability to view television programs using a mobile phone."
As one of the first companies to launch a digital camera as an accessory to a cell phone, Sony Ericsson is recognized as a true innovator in the industry.
"We had no idea that the technology would become this popular this fast, but our success in the market has inspired us to take our creativity to ever-higher levels," said Andre Jacquet, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications vice president of marketing for the Latin American Region.
He added that Sony Ericsson's 2004 digital imaging product line reflects the input the company received recently from the results of its 2003 study of thousands of digital camera enabled cell phone users.
"They said they wanted better quality images in an attractive and compact design that was easy to use and had more photo memory space. They wanted all this from a company with credibility that they trusted," said Jacquet. "We believe we answer all of those needs with the phones we are launching in 2004."
Consumers also like multi-function digital imaging devices that combine printing, according to Gartner Dataquest. Research has shown they use multifunctional devices and photo printers more often than their old machines and buy more replacement cartridges.
An important development in the multifunctional product trend is Hewlett-Packard Company's PSC 2510 Photosmart All-in-One printer/flatbed fax/scanner/copier. The device is especially designed to provide exceptional digital printing and has wireless and Ethernet capabilities within an easy to use format.
HP also offers a full range of cameras and projectors, scanners and photo printers that provide consumers with a total digital imaging solution.
"Our products are designed to engage those who are not tech savvy but want to be part of the trend," said Ricardo Martiarena, product manager for HP Photosmart Solutions for HP Latin America. "From the huge number of sales of digital imaging products, it is clear that people will take billions of images using this technology and will require the best quality photos in addition to the ability to print, store and share them."
HP's digital products feature the ability to enjoy an instant, high quality photo that can be printed and edited without the use of a personal computer. They also provide the flexibility to share images via email, television, printouts or screens.
Cost-effective multi-functional products to be used in tandem with digital imaging technology are also available from Kyocera Mita America, one of the world's leading document imaging companies.
Kyocera's 17 page per minute FS-CS016N color and monochrome ECOSYS printer and the KM-3035 MFP boasts one of the lowest total cost per print and copy, respectively, in the industry. Challenging the traditional high cost of color, Kyocera Mita America now leads the industry by delivering an ultra-low cost per color print for the FS-C5016N, officials said, adding that competing brands offer a cost per color print two or three times that of Kyocera's cost per page.
Commenting on the FS-C5016N, Michael Pietrunti, senior vice president of marketing and technical for Kyocera Mira America, said: "Kyocera has reached a new milestone by delivering an ultra-low cost per color page. Kyocera is providing businesses of all sizes the opportunity to broadly deploy color output devices throughout their organization, at a very reasonable price."
The KM-3035 is a 30 page per minute device that features a maximum monthly volume of 85,000 and a drum life up to 400,000 impressions. The KM-3035 has optional printing and scanning capabilities. When used for network printing, the device comes standard with 64MB (upgradeable to 576MB) of RAM. The optional print Hard Disk Drive provides several capabilities, including document printing and e-MPS functions, private print, job storage, quick copy, proof and hold, and virtual mailboxes. The optional network print system supports all popular operating systems and page description languages including PRESCRIBE, PCL6 (PCL XL, PCL 5e).
"By incorporating Kyocera's user-friendly technology, including our universal KX print driver, and our versatile print, copy, scan and fax features, organizations will be able to use the new devices as powerful tools for all of their day-to-day complex applications," said Pietrunti.
Kyocera's ECOSYS Technology, which is environmentally friendly, allows the addition of toner to printers without the disposal of their drums, thereby eliminating the unnecessary waste of cartridges.
"Demystifying" digital photography so that consumers can enjoy sharing their memories more easily has been one of the Eastman Kodak Company's strategic foundations over the last several years, according to Richard B. Ford, director of marketing and business development, Latin American Region Digital & Applied Imaging Division of Eastman Kodak Company.
Eastman Kodak, which has one of the largest digital imaging patent portfolios in the industry, has doubled its digital product business year on year in Latin America since it entered the market in June 2001, Ford added.
"We have made it our priority to be in-country throughout Latin America with competitively priced products that are the easiest to use as all of them operate in native Spanish and Portuguese in terms of their user interfaces and prompts," said Ford.
The company has announced six digital cameras in 2004, following its huge success in 2003 with the launch of the Kodak EasyShare printer dock 6000--the world's first printer and camera dock combination enabling users to print borderless 4 inch by 6 inch photos directly from their EasyShare camera at the touch of a button with no computer required.
Although the EesyShare printer dock is small enough to be portable for special occasions, it also can be connected to a computer to offer the benefits of an EasyShare camera dock, including one-touch picture transfer to computer and battery recharging. Used in conjunction with any Kodak EasyShare 6000/600 or 7000/700 series cameras, the printer dock 6000 provides a simple and quick way to get durable, waterproof Kodak prints from an EasyShare digital camera in a little as 90 seconds.
Panasonic, which has sold digital cameras in Latin America for three years, sees so much acceptance of digital imaging in the market that it foresees the demise of conventional, 35-mm cameras that require film within two or three years.
Digital imaging products have become popular in Latin America due to falling product prices, the ability to edit photos, store them electronically and discard unwanted images, and the availability of printing booths in photography stores throughout the region, according to David Kanda, Panasonic's Latin America marketing manager for audio and office products.
Panasonic specializes in medium- and high-end, high-resolution cameras that use the widely accepted SD memory cards and will soon launch its FZ-10, a camera it touts as unmatched in the market for its far-reaching zoom capabilities.
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