Kodak, known globally for camera accessories, has launched a smartphone called Kodak Ektra. The smartphone sports a 21MP main camera when most phones have 13MP. The front facing camera for selfies is 13MP. Kodak says that the Ektra is a photography-first smartphone. The phone was developed by British company Bullitt. The original Kodak Ektra camera was released back in 1941, and Kodak says this new smartphone is the “latest reincarnation” of that famous model.
The Kodak Ektra has the following specs:
- Leading Helio X-20 Decacore Processor
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow (unclear whether users will be able to upgrade to Android 7.0 Nougat)
- 3000 mAh battery
- 3GB RAM
- 32GB Memory, expandable with MicroSD cards
- 5” Full HD display (441 ppi). (1920 x 1080 resolution)
- 21MP main camera with Aperture f2.0
- Optical Image Stabilisation and Auto Focus
- 13MP front-facing camera
- Phase Detection Auto Focus & HDR Imaging
- 4K Video Capture
Retail price =£449 ($550)
Impressive I might say. But wait a minute, what is Kodak doing in the smartphone business? Isn’t it rather too late to be venturing into this space?
Business management books are riddled with the stories of how Kodak failed to heed to the changing times. And the company is constantly being used as an example of what would happen if you do not adapt to the changing times.
Now back to the question…what is Kodak doing in the smartphone business?
- This is the second time Kodak and Bullitt are partnering together to launch a phone. The first time was in 2015 in Latin America but it made little impact;
- When Kodak emerged from bankruptcy on September 3, 2013, it announced that it stated that it was going to focus on imaging for business. Its main business segments are Digital Printing & Enterprise and Graphics, Entertainment & Commercial Films. So why smartphones now?
- Are there enough people or photographers around the world that would appreciate the camera specs for it to be a success?
- There are so many smartphone companies out there and I wonder if Kodak has the marketing prowess, strategic know-how to make people shift to this smartphone.
Anyway, time will tell. As for me, they shouldn’t have bothered creating this phone.
