Wolf Camera Launches One-Hour Digital Imaging

Business Wire, Nov 6, 1997

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 1997--

Regional Roll-Out Represents First Step in National Campaign

to Install One-Hour Digital Photographic Systems

Throughout the 300-Store Wolf Chain

In the first wave of what will become one of the biggest deals in the history of on-line photography, Wolf Camera announced Thursday that it has introduced one-hour digital photographic services in ten test stores in Charlotte.

The regional launch represents the first stage of a national initiative that will equip all 300 Wolf Camera Stores with PhotoNet Digital Systems (PDS) during 1998.

PDS provides consumers with digital images from 35 mm or 24 mm APS film within one hour. The images are delivered on diskette or via the Internet.

"The digital divide has effectively been bridged today," said Phil Garfinkle, president and CEO of PictureVision Inc. the developer of PhotoNet. "Wolf's commitment to digital photography ushers in a new era that allows consumers to use, share and view their pictures in exciting new ways."

For consumers, using the service is as easy as dropping off film at a Wolf Camera location and choosing between PhotoNet Disk(TM) or PhotoNet Online(TM). When a consumer chooses PhotoNet Disk, Wolf Camera will scan their negatives and place up to 40 images from a regular camera on a diskette which consumers can access through their home computers.

For PhotoNet Online, Wolf scans the images and uploads them to a secure area of the Internet. The photos remain on the Web for 30 days (longer if you wish) for consumers to order reprints on-line, store on the Internet, e-mail to anyone in the world or download them to a personal computer for use with any number of popular software applications.

Best of all, PhotoNet Disk and PhotoNet Online require no special knowledge of photography or computers. All that's needed is a regular camera and a personal computer (connected to the Internet for the PhotoNet Online service). Consumers still receive their prints and negatives -- just like they do now when their film is developed.

"We're convinced that sharing memories on our computers is the next stage of the photographic industry," said Chuck Wolf, president of Wolf Camera. "PhotoNet allows consumers to do more with their pictures, share them electronically and enjoy their photography in new, exciting ways.

"Our Charlotte stores will provide these services within the same one hour window that it takes to process their film, making digital photography easier and more convenient than ever before."

Charlotte has been designated as the initial PhotoNet market by Wolf Camera because of its high penetration of PC households, as well as its young affluent demographic makeup. Wolf Camera enjoys strong name recognition in the market, and benefits from a large, loyal customer base that is comprised of avid photographers."

Wolf Camera plans to roll out the one-hour digital photographic systems concept to the rest of its markets in 1998.

About Wolf Camera

Atlanta-based Wolf Camera now operates more than 300 stores in 16 states nationwide, including 10 stores in the Charlotte area. The privately-held company was founded by Chuck Wolf in 1974 in Atlanta and Charlotte.

Every Wolf Camera store features an on-site, one hour photo lab staffed by photographic experts, as well as "Copy-A-Print" digital enlargement services, which allows consumers to create their own reprints and enlargements in seconds -- without a negative. Wolf Camera stores also feature a complete array of photographic products and services.

About PhotoNet

Based in Herndon, Va. PictureVision(TM) Inc. (http://www.picturevision.com) provides the imaging industry with easy-to-use, turn-key strategies and solutions for profitably increasing sales by leveraging the evolution to digital photography.

PictureVision markets PhotoNet Disk, which allows consumers to receive their photographs on floppy disks along with self-contained software they can use to share and use their photographs on their personal computers.

PictureVision is also the developer of PhotoNet Online, the world's first service that allows consumers to view, share, manipulate, and store photographs over the Internet simply by having film developed by a participating PhotoNet photo processor.

For more information about PictureVision or PhotoNet, contact Greg Matusky or Tony DeFazio at 610/642-8253 or go to http://www.picturevision.com on the World Wide Web. -0- Note to Editors: PhotoNet is a registered trademark of PictureVision Inc.

CONTACT: PictureVision Inc.

by

Gregory Communications

Greg Matusky or Tony DeFazio, 610/642-8253

e-mail: greg@gregcomm.com