When Being Late to Launch Isn't a Bad Thing

Andrea Wood | June 16, 2006, 11:24 AM

Sony always seems to be the last CE company to launch products that have been in the field for absolute ages. For once, this isn’t such a bad thing. Today the company announced the imminent launch of pick-up points for online prints in Longs Drugs locations across the West coast. This isn’t Sony’s first foray into photo kiosks - that deal was with CVS. Sony’s late launch comes at a time when more and more consumers are going digital. JupiterResearch data shows that digital camera ownership reached 60 percent of online consumers in 2005, up from 52 percent in 2004. So, there’s a pretty good chance that Sony has an opportunity to really increase market presence and awareness with these kiosks.