Software Facilitates Online Orders for Photos
Consumers using Eastman Kodak’s EasyShare software will be able to place the
orders online, and then they can either pick up the prints at the stores or
have them shipped to their home. Chains participating in the plan include CVS,
Target, Rite-Aid and Ritz Camera, reports CNET.News.
Kodak also said that the photo-finishing providers using the EasyShare software will be adopting the new Common Picture Exchange Environment (CPXe). The International Imaging Industry Association (IIIA), a nonprofit trade group supported by Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, Fujifilm and others, developed the open standard and network intended to simplify ordering photo prints. The IIIA will maintain a directory of retail photofinishers that support the standard and will supervise the network that will allow online photo services, retail photofinishers and other services supporting CPXe standard to exchange images with each other.
Kodak also intends to support the CPXe standard in several other products, including its online photo storage service Ofoto, its PictureMaker kiosks and its Picture Center online retail service.
Moderator Comment: Will digital technology expand
consumers’ participation in the photography category and need for photo services?
The photo industry manufacturers have always contended
that when consumers find they can take better pictures more easily, they will
take more pictures. Time will tell. [George
Anderson – Moderator]