New e-printing service from Fuji

Fauziah Muhtar
New Straits Times
07-15-2004
New e-printing service from Fuji
Byline: Fauziah Muhtar
Edition: Computimes; 2*
Section: Lab Report Products

PRINTING photos from digital cameras is getting easier and faster. Fuji Photo Film (M) Sdn Bhd has introduced Print@FujiColour, a new e-printing service.

Available at its FujiFilm Digital Imaging (FDi) Station concept shops, the service allows customers to send their photos for printing simply via the Internet.
The FDi photo shops will deliver the developed photos free of charge.

Fuji Photo Film's senior executive director Paul N.C. Ho said with the availability of such service, the company hopes to reduce the home printing need that has become a trend nowadays.

"The introduction of Print@FujiColour is to encourage personal computer users to send images stored on their PCs to the virtual shop for printing. The service also helps to provide wider market coverage and add new customer base," Ho said.

Operating on the Internet platform, the service allows photo shops to operate round the clock. With the convenience of online ordering and request, it helps to increase printing demand.

"Print@FujiColour is available only in Malaysia," Ho said.

"Users can post order from anywhere in the world through any Malaysian mobile phone numbers, but the photos will only be delivered to addresses in Malaysia."

Users can place printing order at www.fujifilm.com.my and the system will direct the request to the nearby authorised FDi photo shop at the delivery address. Printing a 4R-sized photo will cost 60 sen each and users will be charged RM5 per order.

Size of photos must be at maximum two megabytes each and come in JPG format. To be eligible for free delivery, users need to order a minimum 30 prints.

Print@FujiColour will be available through Fuji Photo Film's dealers who operate under the FDi concept shops nationwide.

There are 160 FDi concept shops which are equipped with the Frontier equipment that can offer Print@FujiColour service.

To make e-printing possible, Fuji Photo Film is working with partners like MnEBay for system development, Poslaju for courier services, Nanyang Online for loyalty programme, Systems@Work for payment gateway, and TMNet for broadband services.

It plans to carry out promotion campaigns next year to create awareness of the Print@FujiColour service in various media.

The company also plans to introduce a new enhanced online printing service that provides various printing templates for different occasion themes.

Another solution to be introduced is business-to-consumer photo printing service called Digital Photo Centre. This will come with a self-service terminal that allows users to send printing request from their own media like CD and flash memory card. The request later will be directed to the nearby printing shop.

"We will also have terminals that support wireless connectivity like Bluetooth for photos kept in mobile phones and personal digital assistants," Ho said.

To date, Fuji Photo Film said it has invested about RM16.7 million in developing new solutions.

(Copyright 2004)