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New Study Reveals Consumer Desire to
Print Camera Phone Pictures
Fujifilm Press Release Summary:
Survey details consumer attitudes and
camera-phone printing behaviors
Valhalla, NY, September 13, 2005 - Fuji
Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. today released findings from a camera
phone behavior study completed by NPD Techworld, a division of
the NPD Group, Inc., revealing that 44.6 percent of participants
said they have taken pictures with their camera phone that they
wished they had printed. The most commonly noted reasons for not
printing these images included image quality, simplicity of
process and overall perceived cost.
"Clearly, the camera phone market continues
to enjoy a healthy boom," said Neil Strother, research director
for mobile devices for The NPD Group. "Our data show that last
year camera phones had penetrated 7 percent of the U.S. market,
and now that number is close to 22 percent - a dramatic
year-over-year increase of nearly 200 percent. As more megapixel
camera phones enter the market and image quality improves, the
expectation is that significantly more consumers will want to
print the photos taken with these improved products."
The study, based on a survey of more than
400 U.S. camera phone owners, points to a significant
opportunity for retailers and vendors to capitalize on the
printing potential from accelerating adoption rates of camera
phones and the growth in mobile imaging.
"Early adopters of digital cameras most
often printed at home, if they printed at all - there weren't
many options yet available or convenient. Now the infrastructure
to get digital prints at retail is in place and consumers are
adopting this behavior more quickly," said John Prendergast,
Vice President, Web and Online Services, Imaging Group, Fuji
Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. "As the quality, functionality and
ease-of-use of camera phones improve, we see users gravitating
to the service, quality and cost-effectiveness of the retail
destination."
The data notes a strong correlation between
the number of images taken by a camera phone and the likelihood
they will be printed, with those who print taking nearly double
the number of images a month. The study also found that 74
percent of camera phone users also own a digital camera. Other
key findings from the survey indicate that, much like digital
cameras, the most commonly photographed subjects by camera phone
users are friends, family and children (80.1%), followed by pets
(37.2%). An interesting difference is the use of camera phones
to take "random" or "spur of the moment" images (29.8%).
Fujifilm, a leader in imaging technology
and retail photofinishing solutions, introduced the first
digital minilab, the Fujifilm Frontier digital lab system, in
1996. Since that time Fujifilm has integrated digital printing
solutions in more than 10,000 retail locations, enabling them to
profit from the exploding number of digital images being
captured. As next generation camera phones continue to emerge
with removable media and wireless transmission capability,
greater resolution, zoom, and other camera-like functionality,
Fujifilm expects these advances to drive printing volumes to
greater levels.
This study is being released the same day
that Fujifilm has announced a new Cingular Wireless service that
allows consumers to download a convenient management and
printing application that takes advantage of the Fujifilm Get
the Picture Online Service. The application enables Cingular
customers to access the thousands of participating digital
processing retail stores nationwide and obtain prints directly
from their handset in as little as an hour.*
Cingular has also introduced an enhanced
version and simpler interface for its Mobile Postcards, the
first-of-its-kind, photo-postcard application launched last
year. This application allows Cingular customers to use their
camera phones to create personalized Fujifilm photo postcards
and send them anywhere in the country via the U.S. mail -
directly from their Cingular handset. Fujifilm created these
applications in conjunction with Summus, Inc., a leading
provider of mobile media applications.
Methodology
The Camera Cell Phone Study was conducted for Fujifilm USA. The
questionnaire was constructed jointly by Fujifilm and NPD and
intended to provide behavioral and attitudinal information on
picture taking with camera cell phones, with particular emphasis
on how the resulting digital photos are printed and distributed.
A total of 600 buyers of camera cell phones
were identified from among members of NPD's Consumer Online
Panel. These buyers were asked via email on July 15, 2005 to
visit the NPD Online Research site to complete the survey.
Fieldwork closed on July 22nd with 419 verified camera cell
phones owners completing the survey, resulting in a response
rate of 69.8 percent.
For more information on Fujifilm imaging
and storage products and services, or Cingular?s photo
applications and, please visit www.fujifilm.com.
About Fujifilm
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film
Co., Ltd. and delivers technology solutions to meet the imaging
and information needs of retailers, consumers, professionals and
business customers. As a global leader in digital imaging,
Fujifilm pioneered the development of digital medical systems,
and today is the leader in digital minilab systems. The company
was ranked in the top ten for U.S. patents granted during the
last decade, employs 73,000 people worldwide and in the year
ending March 31, 2004, had global revenues of more than $24
billion.
In the United States, Fujifilm is a leader in delivering high
quality, easy-to-use imaging and information solutions in the
following categories: Digital Imaging Systems, Recording/Storage
Media, Film and Imaging Systems, Motion Picture Film, Graphic
Arts and Printing Systems and Medical Imaging and Diagnostics
Systems. Fujifilm is committed to being an environmentally
friendly, humane enterprise and an exemplary corporate citizen.
For more information on Fujifilm products,
consumers can call 800-800-FUJI or access the Fujifilm USA Web
site at www.fujifilm.com.
About The NPD Group, Inc.
Since 1967 The NPD Group has provided reliable and comprehensive
consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries.
Today more than 1,400 manufacturers and retailers rely on NPD to
help them better understand their customers, product categories,
distribution channels and competition in order to help guide
their business. Information from The NPD Group is available for
the following major vertical sectors: apparel, appliances,
automotive, beauty, consumer electronics, food and beverage,
foodservice, footwear, home improvement, housewares, imaging,
information technology, music, software, travel, toys, video
games, and wireless. For more information visit www.npd.com, or
contact David Riley, The NPD Group at 516-625-2277 or
david_riley@npd.com. |