 People still want to print their photos, Kodak hopes |
Kodak is cutting up to 6,000 more of its 70,000 staff, as it struggles to cope with the sluggish economy and the prolonged nosedive in sales of camera film. The photo giant has already shed 10,000 jobs since 2000, as the introduction of film-free digital cameras eats into its core market.
This year, it has warned that the persistent slump in travel - including the effects of the mainly Asian Sars virus - has further hit its performance.
The company has posted sharply lower profits of $112m (�70m) for the three months to end-June, down from $284m a year earlier.
Digital decision
Since digital cameras came onto the market, Kodak has tended to insist that its consumer photography business would not suffer.
Now, it has started to acknowledge the damage the technology - largely in the hands of companies outside the traditional photography sector - has done to its bottom line.
But chief executive Dan Carp insisted that Kodak had the brand strength to make money from digital imaging itself.
Earlier this week, for example, it announced the purchase of PracticeWorks,a company that provides digital imaging services for dental offices.
In particular, the firm is hopeful that consumers will want to print their digital photos, either at home or in shops.
"This trend presents a huge opportunity for Kodak to generate profitable sales of our market-leading Picture Maker kiosks and inkjet paper, which will help offset declining sales from traditional film," Mr Carp said.
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