News

Sony focuses on Kodak's digital printing market

June 5, 2002

NEW YORK -- Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE), the leading maker of digital cameras, is shooting for the top spot in the do-it-yourself digital printing arena, now dominated by Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK). Sony expects to install 20,000 of its PictureStation photo finishing systems in the United States within the next three years, according to Reuters.

Sony has installed 100 of its PictureStation kiosks in U.S. retailers since April. The stations range from an $8,000 countertop model to an $11,000, five-foot-tall kiosk. Users insert the memory cards from their cameras, adjust and select the photos they want, and pay and print their shots within minutes, according to Reuters.

Unlike Kodak, which has installed its Picture Maker kiosks in 21,000 U.S. drugstores and major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Kinko's, Sony is focusing on independent camera shops.

Kodak has nearly 35,000 photo kiosks worldwide, 80 percent of which can make prints from digital camera disks, Reuters reported. Most of Kodak's machines include a tabletop scanner that turns printed photos into digital files. (See story: Kodak enhancing digital photography system) A newer version of Kodak's kiosks, Picture Maker Digital Print Station, will accept the Memory Stick as Sony's do now.

Kodak spokesman Charlie Smith said any success Sony has will expand the digital photography market, a plus for his company.

"It's good for the category," Smith said. "Others coming into the category, while it creates competition, is good. It's much like the ATM machines a decade or so ago; as more players come in, they will gain consumer acceptance."