Business Services Industry

GE digital cameras make new push into e-commerce as full line comes to Amazon.com's Electronics Store

Business Wire, May 2, 2008

TORRANCE, Calif. -- General Imaging, the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE digital cameras, has teamed with Amazon.com to make its entire line of digital cameras available from the online retailer.

Amazon already had been selling some GE-branded cameras but will now expand its offerings to include the 2008 models, including the entry-level A series, the mid-price E series, and the ultra-compact G series. Standard colors for the GE cameras are black, silver or red, with some models being available in additional colors as well. Prices start under $90.

"We're delighted to offer our products through Amazon.com," said Hiroshi "Hugh" Komiya, Chairman and CEO of General Imaging. "Amazon has continued its amazing growth through 2007 and now into 2008, and we're happy to be a part of it."

"Many of our customers appreciate the convenience and selection of online shopping, and Amazon.com is obviously a leader in that category," said Rene Buhay, General Imaging's Senior Vice president of Sales and Marketing for the Americas. "We think e-commerce will continue its strong growth, so it's a perfect place for us to extend our brand."

All GE cameras boast sleek and intuitive design, as well as an array of popular, advanced functions as standard features, including face detection, image stabilization, red-eye removal, 1600 ISO sensitivity, and panorama stitching - all of which are embedded in the camera. Panorama stitching allows users to "see the bigger picture" by joining three images together seamlessly to take in landscapes and other wide vistas.

The GE cameras are among the first on the market to include blink detection and smile detection, ensuring that the user captures just the right moment when taking shots of people. After a shot is taken, the blink detection feature alerts the user that the subject's eyes were closed and allows another attempt. The smile detection feature works by tripping the shutter automatically when the subject smiles.

One model, the GE E1050, adds several additional features, including touch-screen controls, high-definition video capture, and HDMI connectivity for use with today's HDTV sets. It is expected to be available by June. A GPS-enabled version of the E1050, which will identify precisely where photos are taken, should be available by this fall.

About General Imaging

An independent new company based in Torrance, Calif., General Imaging unveiled the first-ever line of GE digital cameras in March 2007, setting a new standard for high-quality, feature-rich cameras that offer excellent value. Get more information about the entire line of GE cameras, along with high-resolution photos, at www.ge.com/digitalcameras.>