Nikon Teams with Zing to Launch New Photo Web Sites

By Jennifer Laidlaw

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nikon Inc., the U.S. division of Japanese camera maker Nikon Corp. (7731.T), is teaming up with Internet photo services company Zing Network Inc. to launch and redesign photo Web sites in a bid to boost Nikon's online and digital presence.

On Thursday, Nikon launched an online photo community site called Nikonnet (www.nikonnet.com), MicroscopyU (www.microscopyu.com), which specializes in digital imaging among other things, and relaunched its retail site Nikon Mall (www.thenikonmall.com).

At the end of November it plans to relaunch its existing Nikon USA site, where people can find out about the company's new products and e-mail Nikon. It will also launch an education site early next year called Nikon School, offering online photo courses. Zing will develop the sites and provide infrastructure.

Nikon and Zing officials said the aim of creating the new sites is offer a range of Internet photo services for customers, such as picture-sharing and online albums. ``Our vision really is that photos can play a very active role in connecting family and friends together,'' Mark Platshon, chairman of Zing Networks, told a conference call.

The move comes as traditional camera makers and film companies have been trying to redefine themselves in a digital age through major investments in digital products and online products. For example, photography giant Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE:EK - news) recently relaunched its Kodak.com site (http://www.kodak.com) and has various alliances and ventures with online photo companies.

"We are looking at the tremendous potential of the Internet," Jerry Grossman, Nikon's vice president of Internet development and marketing at Nikon, said.

While digital and online products should provide additional revenue for photography companies, analysts said it still isn't 100 percent clear whether consumers are catching on.

"We are seeing the tracks being laid; the consumer adoption story has really got to be told," said Seamus McAteer, senior analyst at Jupiter Communications.

But if big photography names want to stay ahead of the competition, they have to invest in the Internet.

"It's something they have to do," he said. "It's a competitive imperative."