Kodak has hooked up with mobile phone operator T-Mobile to give users of its wireless-enabled EasyShare-One camera free use of more than 800 of T-mobile?s Wi-Fi ?hotspots? around the UK. However, it has emerged that those receiving images emailed wirelessly from the soon-to-be-launched camera will not be able to download them.
Wi-Fi allows images to be transferred between devices using radio signals ? without connection cables. So, in theory, the deal will allow users of the EasyShare-One to wirelessly transfer images directly from the camera to the internet ? provided the camera is equipped with a Wi-Fi card ? and email them to a computer anywhere in the world.
The hotspots are located in places such as Starbucks cafes, Borders bookshops and airport departure lounges.
However, the person receiving the emailed image will not be able to save it on their computer. They will be able to view the image on their computer screen but as it will not arrive as a JPEG attachment the image will not be downloadable, explained Kodak UK?s product sales manager for Digital Cameras and Home Printing Lee Stones. The email will merely notify the person receiving the picture that they can view this and other images on the Kodak EasyShare Gallery where they can also order prints.
This means that, for example, if a user happens to find themselves in the middle of a breaking news story they will not be able to wirelessly email a downloadable JPEG image, to a newspaper picture desk for publication.
Pictures from the gallery will also be viewable on the camera?s monitor when it is connected to the Kodak website, says Kodak.
T-Mobile operates 2,000 or so UK hotspots and is so far the only mobile phone operator to provide Kodak?s UK customers with Wi-Fi connection.
Kodak is poised to launch a massive advertising campaign to promote the EasyShare-One which is due in the shops in October.
The free-to-use deal runs until 31 January 2006.
For details of the location of T-Mobile hotpots visit www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=phones_wb
