March 15, 2005
Kodak Urges Camera-Phone Progress
Eastman Kodak Co. Chief Executive Dan Carp warned that camera phones could fade into niche obscurity if the industry doesn't improve the quality of the phones and the experience of using them, reports the WSJ.
"The largest unmet needs of camera phones are in image quality, battery life and printing capabilities, Mr. Carp said during a keynote presentation at a trade show in New Orleans hosted by CTIA, a wireless industry group.
Many consumers find the camera-phone experience "less than satisfying," Mr. Carp said, noting that if the industry chooses to ignore consumer complaints and focuses on new features such as video, it could spell a lost opportunity.
He likened the situation to missteps Kodak made in its digital camera business. Although Kodak launched the first digital camera in 1975, Mr. Carp said it eventually lost its leadership position because it didn't listen to consumer complaints.
According to Mr. Carp, important to expanding the camera-phone market is to "satisfy the basic consumer needs." That, he said, will "increase consumption to levels never before experienced."
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