Bright Future of Digital Cameras to Boost Consumer Photofinishing Market, IDC Expects

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 5, 2005--IDC expects positive growth in the consumer photofinishing market. Even though film usage will decline, the bright future of digital camera shipments will increase the number of images captured, shared and received, reveals a new IDC study. Digital camera images captured, shared and received worldwide will grow an average of 35% for 2003-2008. Digital cameras will continue to be the largest generator of digital images despite the greater forecasted proliferation of camera phones. Prints from digital images will surpass film prints in 2006 and will account for 71% of total worldwide prints by 2008.

"Digital images are supplanting film prints as more and more users begin to print from digital cameras rather than through film cameras," said Christopher Chute, senior analyst for Digital Imaging research at IDC. "As film prints decline, home printing from digital cameras will pull up total global print revenue. However, we expect that the fragmentation caused by the impact of digital technology on the photofinishing market will result in a consumables price war between environments."

“As film prints decline, home printing from digital cameras will pull up total global print revenue. However, we expect that the fragmentation caused by the impact of digital technology on the photofinishing market will result in a consumables price war between environments.”

From a regional perspective, the U.S. hegemony on print revenue will stay constant. Image printing has been largely a U.S.-based phenomenon for most of the digital capture device market lifespan. IDC expects the U.S. share to hover at 35% over the forecast period, again, largely due to U.S. consumer's comfort level with desktop PC use. The Rest of World region (including Asia/Pacific) will increase its share of global revenue the most to 26% in 2008, while Japan's share will decline to 10% in 2008, and Western Europe will remain close to 30%.

IDC's new study, Worldwide Image Forecast, 2004-2008: The Image Bible (IDC #32428), quantifies the number of images captured, shared, received, and printed by capture device users (i.e., digital camera, scanner, camera phone, digital camcorder, and film camera) for consumers and businesses. It also forecasts how the various volumes of these images will shift over time due to the impact of infrastructure technology, increased adoption of capture technology, and the price of image printing. This year's Image Bible includes four regional breakouts and a worldwide roll-up.

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For additional information about IDC's Digital Imaging research, please contact Anne-Sophie Dankens at [e-mail].

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