Sprint and Fujifilm have announced a new service that lets users of Sprint’s Picture Mail service get film prints of photos taken with cameraphones. Put in your zip code and select the closest photofinishing retailer, then pick up your pictures in a couple of hours. Not going to blow any mindz, but it’s a decent extended service for Sprint customers already using the online Picture Mail albums. A lot of the free photo hosting services have a similar service, as well.
It would be even cooler if you could send them out to be developed straight from the phone. That could be pretty handy.
Full release after the jump.
SPRINT LAUNCHES ONLINE PRINT ORDERING
USING FUJIFILM S GET THE PICTURE ONLINE SERVICE
Sprint s Picture MailSM customers and their friends and family who receive email shares can now print their pictures through Fujifilm s Online Digital Printing Service
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & VALHALLA, N.Y. October 6, 2004 Today, Sprint (NYSE: FON) and Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., announced a new feature that enables Sprint s Picture Mail customers to send digital camera-phone pictures from their online Picture Mail album to any participating retail photofinisher, including Ritz Camera, Sam s Club and Wolf Camera the first retailers in their respective channels to offer this progressive service. Family and friends can also join in the fun by printing the photos they receive via email share. The new feature utilizes Fujifilm s Get the Picture Online Service and marks a significant milestone in the evolution of wireless imaging.
Sprint s Picture Mail customers can now take full advantage of high-resolution mobile devices by taking pictures worth saving and printing, said Jeff Hallock, vice president Product Marketing & Strategy, Sprint. By providing a more robust Picture Mail service, Sprint is continuing to transform the camera phone into arguably one of the most important consumer electronics devices of our time.
Upon taking a picture with their camera phone and uploading it to their Picture Mail online albums (www.sprint.com/picturemail), Sprint customers now have the option to search for a convenient retail photofinishing location by zip code; order prints of different sizes and quantities; and pick up their prints in a matter of hours, depending on the retailer s service options. Picture Mail customers and those receiving an email share can select a retail photofinisher nearby or one close to a friend or relative, either locally or across the country.
Fujifilm is committed to providing consumers with the easiest and highest quality option for getting prints of their digital pictures, remarked John Prendergast, Vice President, Strategic Business Development, Photo Imaging Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. Fujifilm s service relationship with Sprint benefits consumers who want prints of their camera phone pictures and to our retail photofinishing customers who are connected directly to camera phone picture-takers via our Get the Picture Online Service.
Current research indicates that 22 percent of 83 billion camera phone pictures taken in North America over the next four years will be printed, said Jill Aldort, consultant, InfoTrends. Printing mobile phone pictures is clearly an area of growth, and Sprint and Fujifilm are paving the way to allow those who love their camera-phone pictures to do more with them.
In July, Sprint announced America s first one-megapixel camera phone, the Sprint PCS VisionSM Picture Phone PM-8920, improving the quality of mobile pictures for those who wish to save and print life s everyday moments. From August 2002 to September 2004, Sprint PCS customers sent more than 270 million picture and video messages over the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network.
Sprint customers can purchase a Sprint PCS Vision Pictures Pack for $15 per month, in addition to their current service plan. With this package, customers get unlimited Picture Mail to take, upload, send, preserve and enhance an unlimited number of pictures; unlimited Sprint PCS Vision access; 100 SMS text messages; and up to $5 credit per month towards the download of premium services. The cost of printing service varies by participating retailer.
