Until recently, the digital cameras were being sold by a handful of Kodak appointed dealers. Under the new arrangement, Summit will be responsible for the complete distribution of digital cameras.

Summit Data managing director Rakesh Kapoor said the Kodak cameras and the CD writers would be retailed through its network of 100 resellers located all across the country. In addition, the cameras would also be retailed through select Kodak outlets. Technical support would be provided by Summit Data at the major metros where its branch offices are located.

Kapoor said his company would initially launch fourmodels of digital cameras priced between Rs 27,000 and Rs 75,000. The range would be expanded after three months when Kodak unveils new models worldwide. The CD writer would retail at Rs 14,400.

The digital cameras would be targeted at users in insurance companies, banks, government, multinational corporations and manufacturing sector. The device can be used to complement scanners which are widely used in business establishments, Kapoor felt.

Summit Data and Kodak, meanwhile, is planning a consumer awareness programme aimed at educating people on the variety of uses of these camera. Under the service strategy that has been finalised, the companies proposes to replace cameras that develop faults that can be rectified within two-three days.

Photography is estimated to become a $370-billion business worldwide at the turn of the century while the estimates of the size of the digital photography business vary from $75 billion to $150 billion.

According to Eastman Kodak Company digital and applied imagingdivision general manager Jeffry Ho, the shipment of digital cameras exceed that of SLR cameras at present. It is estimated that the demand for digital cameras is growing at the rate of over 25 per cent and this year the global market for such cameras is estimated to be 15 million units.