Fuji Photo Sets Up Print Kiosks

[george]

Fuji Photo sets up print kiosks

BANGKOK: -- Fuji Photo Film has launched its Printpix by Fuji Film Cheki photo machine kiosk, where prints from mobile-phone and digital cameras can be created.

When Fuji Photo Film realised how difficult it was to find print-out stations for digital images, it teamed up with Ehrlich Co Ltd to fill the service gap in the swelling digital photography market.

But Fuji wants the Cheki to be more than a print out station. The device is also being plugged as more convenient than conventional digital print out options.

For instance, most digital camera owners rarely wanted to print out all of the images on their memory cards. But photo shops might not be able to provide such a specific service, said Prasert Sattaya-apitan, business development manager of Fuji Photo Film (Thailand) Ltd.

Somprasong Utis, marketing manager for Ehrlich Co Ltd, said the Cheki allows users to upload a few photos of various sizes from either their mobile phone or digital cameras.

Prasert said an estimated 6.3 million new mobile phones will be purchased this year, of which about 30 per cent would have a camera function.

He predicted that all mobile phones would eventually have camera functions because mobile providers were going all out with the new spate of multi-function "Swiss Army" phones.

Prices of a Cheki photo depend on the size of the print. A 2x4 inch print costs Bt20, a 4x5 inch Bt50, and a 4x6 also Bt50.

Somprasong said the Cheki machine costs Bt150,000, adding that general photo machines were priced at about Bt100,000.

The companies expect to sell 300 machines by the end of the year, mainly to department stores, super centres and entertainment complexes like Major Cineplex.

The companies also plan to place Chekis in busy Skytrain stations and all 12 subway stations.

Fuji Film and Ehrlich are negotiating purchase deals with network operators such as AIS, Orange, DTAC.

--The Nation 2004-06-12