From Glenn Fleishman's "Wi-Fi Networking News" I learned that Kodak will offer an EasyShare-One digital camera that includes WiFi (see below) and will work over T-Mobile's WiFi HotSpot network. Glenn speculates that Kodak might be including 802.11x authentication, that T-Mobile already has incorporated into its network.
Kodak customers also may upload photos to the Kodak EasyShare Gallery, that used to be called Ofoto, the online photo album. (It's still called Ofoto on the Web site.)
Several cellular operators offer Ofoto album and printing services for camera phone users.
More details
I usually don't print large sections of press releases, but this one is worth it. Here's part of the Kodak press release about the camera's capabilities and arrangementswith T-Mobile:
"Owners of the new KODAK EASYSHARE-ONE digital camera will have integrated access to T-Mobile HotSpot service, available at more than 5,000 convenient locations across the U.S.
"All EASYSHARE-ONE camera purchasers will initially receive a free, camera-specific T-Mobile HotSpot trial (terms to be determined). T-Mobile HotSpot subscription plans will be available for the EASYSHARE-ONE camera beginning later this year (pricing and other terms to be determined).
"The EASYSHARE-ONE camera gives people extraordinary control over how and when they share pictures, whether on the LCD screen, online, or as prints.
"The camera is truly first-of-its-kind, with direct picture e-mailing and online album viewing via a Wi-Fi connection through compatible networks; the ability to hold up to 1,500 favorite pictures for instant display on its high-resolution, 3-inch touch screen; and the capability to take high quality still pictures and video.
"No other digital camera gives people such extensive ability to take, organize, share and print their pictures.
"The camera (US$599 MSRP; US$99 for optional KODAK Wi-Fi card) will begin reaching select retailers this June. An internal software update, permitting direct connections via the T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi service, may be downloaded to the camera in the third quarter of 2005.
"EASYSHARE-ONE camera owners will enjoy high-speed, wireless broadband access at T-Mobile HotSpot locations for sharing and viewing their pictures online after subscribing to the T-Mobile HotSpot service."
Waiting for something like this
I have been waiting to see when digital camera vendors would become more involved in wireless -- both cellular and WiFi. Nikon has a WiFi-enabled digital camera, but it's very expense.
Cellular works rather well for sending and receiving small files, but the larger files required for two megapixel camera phones and above place a serious strain on network capacity and data rates.
Cellular download speeds are getting faster, such as 250K bps - 400K bps (real world) for CDMA 1xEV-DO, but upload speeds are a fraction of that, such as 40K bps - 60K bps. WiFi offers superior upload speeds that would be useful for transmitting large files.
No panacea
I'm thrilled that Kodak is offering this WiFi camera, but it's priced out of the mass market. At $600 for the camera plus $100 for the WiFi card, that's more expensive than the best camera phone.
Yes, prices certainly will go down and, yes, a digital camera offers sophisticated features that are far beyond virtually all of today's camara phones (except for a handful in Japan and Korea).
From the Kodak EasyShare-One fact sheet (see below), I see it's a four megapixel device with a 3x optical zoom, 3.3x digital zoom, video recording capability (VGA) of up to 80 minutes (depending upon the capacity of the Secure Digital), flash and many other typical digital camara features.
This camera is TOTALLY WICKED!!! It makes me want to stand up and shake my bootie!!!! When i think about it make me all warm and fuzzy inside :) If it was a dessert, i would eat it every day!!! If it was a puppy, i would love it, and hug it, and kiss it every day!! I feel as if we were made for eachother! I want to wake up every morning with it in my arms. If you own it, i envy you. If you do not wish to own one, i hope you choke on a cucumber smuthered from the scum off my toes. People think I'm crazy, but I think I'm crazy in LOVE!!!! with the Kodak EasyShare-One Digital Camera. It was as if it was send down straight from heaven. My first look at it took my breath away. Whatever genius invented this masterpeice... my heart goes out to you. I long for you to touch me with the same hands that built this camera. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!
Sincerely, Tamika
Posted by: Tamika | Thursday, November 03, 2005 at 01:06 PM