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11/22/2024 07:54:54 am

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Kodak Launching First Android Phone In 2015

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(Photo : Reuters) Coming out of bankruptcy, Kodak has announced it will unveil its first Android smartphone at CES 2015.

Kodak is back, after filing for bankruptcy in 2013, the camera manufacturer wants to take another shot in the business, and start getting involved in other businesses.

One market currently untapped is Android, but not for long. Kodak has revealed plans to create a smartphone for Android, utilizing the power of Kodak's photo technology.

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Kodak claims the phone will have "best-in-class image management software and features" and should interest customers who want a "high-end experience."

Alongside the phone, Kodak will develop a tablet and connected camera. All three devices will be available before the second half of 2015, and British firm Bullit will work on the hardware.

"Kodak is one of the world's most recognisable brands. It is trusted by consumers as a marque of quality and innovation," said Oliver Schulte, CEO Bullitt Mobile "We've taken that heritage and used it to inspire a range of beautifully designed devices that will let users take great pictures and edit, share, store and print them in an instant."

Apart from the camera experience, Kodak has not alluded to much on the software or hardware on the phone, stating it will have "great design and UI" for customers.

It is unclear if photos will be the core focus on the smartphone, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Zoom, or whether Kodak will offer an all-round package to compete with flagship devices.

Using Bullit for the hardware and manufacturing might mean limited supply at first, since the British firm does not have the manufacturing prowess of Chinese rivals like Foxconn and Pegatron.

This might be a good thing for Kodak however, considering the brand does not carry any weight in the smartphone world, and only photo fans will care about the brand name.

If Kodak can nail the camera software, it might make for a good purchase, but often times brands entering the smartphone market get a rather dull reception. Customers tend to prefer established brands like HTC and Samsung, over a gamble like Amazon or Facebook.

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