News

Standards established for digital development

June 16, 2002

HARRISON, N.Y. -- Some of the photo-imaging industry's leading companies, including digital photo kiosk providers Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE:EK), Fujifilm, and Olympus America Inc., have entered into an initiative designed to enhance digital photography choices for consumers.

The initiative, Common Picture eXchange Environment (CPXe), was announced on June 17 by the International Imaging Industry Association, of which Kodak and Fuji are members. The CPXe standards are expected to be completed by the end of 2002.

CPXe creates a Web-based framework that will enable the transmission and printing of digital images across a wide range of platforms, including digital cameras, PCs, photofinishers, and digital photofinishing kiosks.

The association will manage the system's network architecture and directory of services. The directory, which any company can sign up for, includes a list of service providers searchable through ZIP codes and service types.

"CPXe will link digital camera owners to the traditional photofinishers and minilabs they are familiar with for printing pictures," Lisa Walker, association executive director, said in a news release. "In addition, CPXe creates new revenue streams for retailers, photofinishers, and other companies involved in digital output."

Other companies taking part in the initiative are IDC, Hewlett-Packard, Agfa-Gevaert NV, Canon USA Inc., Digimarc, Fotowire Inc., LifePics Inc., Open Graphics Inc, and Pixology Ltd.