18th January 2006 - Motorola, a global leader in wireless communications, and Kodak ( the world's most recognized brand in digital imaging and the U.S. market-share leader in digital cameras, today announced a 10-year global product, cross licensing and marketing alliance intended to fulfil the promise of mobile imaging for the benefit of consumers. By incorporating Kodak's image science and system integration expertise with Motorola iconic mobile device design, the two companies will greatly improve the ease-of-use and image capture experience of camera phones. The collaboration covers licensing, sourcing, software integration, marketing, and extends to co-development of image-rich devices with joint engineering teams.

Eastman Kodak Company - CMOS
For example, Kodak expects to supply its CMOS sensors to Motorola for use in its camera phones, as well as in any future devices the companies co-develop. Additionally, the cooperation to seamlessly integrate millions of Motorola mobile devices with Kodak home printers, retail kiosks, and the Kodak EasyShare Gallery will finally provide an answer to those consumers who desire a quick and easy way to get their images out of the phone for sharing with friends and family.

Motorola mobile phone - Voice and Picture communication
The alliance delivers value by leveraging each company's intellectual property, particularly Kodak's patents covering digital imaging and Motorola's patents for wireless communications. Motorola has always been at the forefront of mobile imaging with the global launch of the "must have" Triplets during the fourth quarter of 2003 and the subsequent integration of cameras into its award-winning RAZR, PEBL and SLVR phones worldwide. The fusion of voice communication with picture imaging communication into the device that is 'always with you,' has transformed the wireless communications industry.

Kodak and Motorola - Global collaboration
Capturing moments was relatively easy for the wireless industry, but sharing and printing those moments and turning them into revenue streams for wireless operators has proved to be a bigger challenge. Through this alliance, Kodak and Motorola will develop the answer, and they've joined forces in an aggressive and global collaboration to bring this to market.

Mobile imaging and Wireless communication
As Motorola contributes its knowledge of mobile devices and networks, Kodak will contribute its knowledge of the consumer's imaging behaviour. Kodak is at the leading edge of connected imaging with the world's first wireless digital camera, the award winning Kodak EasyShare-One. Because the companies will have access to each other's technology, consumers can look forward to a more connected world, to a time when the ability to capture an image will always be available, when networks will exist to allow people to share images electronically through any number of devices, from camera phones to picture frames to products that have not yet been invented.

Kodak EasyShare gallery - Online digital imaging
What's more, the advent of simple and seamless mobile imaging will redefine the camera while enhancing existing segments of the imaging market. Consumers, for example, will be able to more easily generate prints from Kodak kiosks and share memories from the Kodak EasyShare gallery with wireless devices that are designed from the ground up with imaging in mind.

Motorola mobile imaging service - Kodak EasyShare platform
Under the alliance, Motorola and Kodak plan to initially expand access to and awareness of mobile-imaging services, including retail programs, online services and customized operator-led initiatives that deliver a seamless, easy experience for consumers. During 2006, Motorola plans to launch handsets with integrated software to enrich the Kodak EasyShare experience, enabling consumers to access and manage their mobile images seamlessly and conveniently. In the years to come, Motorola and Kodak plan to deliver new and unique imaging experiences via the collaboration of Motorola and Kodak engineering teams, and the development of new co-created mobile devices.

Back to News Reports