Business News
Fujifilm acquires German online photo system developer, and expands online photo service
Tuesday 22. January 2008 - FUJIFILM Corporation (President & CEO: Mr. Shigetaka Komori) has acquired 100% of the stocks of IP Labs GmbH, a German photo service software provider, through its European affiliate FUJIFILM Europe B.V.
Since 1997, IP Labs GmbH has been utilizing its highly distinguished technologies to develop, sell and maintain online photo service systems. The photo service systems developed by the company have two major advantages: firstly, the systems are extremely user-friendly and enable a variety of products to be easily ordered; and secondly, the systems are easily customizable. The advantages of the systems developed by IP Labs GmbH have received wide acclaim, and the systems are presently a prominent feature in many photo labs and photo chain stores in Europe and around the world.
Fujifilm has been developing its online photo service business since 1997, and the acquisition of IP Labs GmbH and its easy online operation systems will further enhance Fujifilms capability of supplying diversified and convenient systems. It will enable the expansion of products and services of the highest quality, such as photobook, through the synergetic utilization of Fujifilms proprietary Image Intelligence technology*1 through to the variety of printers, like the Frontier digital minilab, Fuji Xeroxs laser printers*2 and Dye-sublimation printers
Online photo services enable the ordering of prints of images taken with digital cameras using the Internet and also provide a range of new value-added services such as photobooks and personalized photo gifts. Along with the increasingly widespread use of digital cameras and the expansion of broadband Internet connections, the online photo service business is currently enjoying an annual growth rate of between 20-30% (and the estimated worldwide revenue for 2006 is estimated to be 940 million US dollars) *3
Fujifilm will continue to strive to further expand the range of print services to satisfy the increasingly diversifying customer needs. In addition, the company remains firmly committed to the preservation and nurturing of the culture of photography.
*1 Fujifilms software technology of the highest quality with digital image to analyze the condition of shoot and object of it automatically, and express the finest image for the purpose and media
*2 The electric photocopying process with static electricity(Xerography).
*3 Data from Fujifilm and Infotrends,Inc