Kodak, Xerox, and convergence
Eastman Kodak and Xerox the two biggest corporate presences in Rochester, New York, have a long history of working separate but related field. Even though some of Xerox's founders came from Kodak and set up shop across town. Kodak was involved in the world of photography, Xerox in office productivity. And the line was pretty well demarcated.
No longer, according to a Wall Street Journal article ("When Neighbors Become Rivals, 1/22/07). Kodak's desperate digital push has moved it more and more into Xerox territory and Xerox technology is being used in the photographic world.
The biggest area of contention is in sales to commercial printers, where Xerox's Nuvera, DocuColor, and iGen machines are the most popular digital printing presses. But Kodak is coming back with its NexPress color digital presses.
On the photo side, Xerox has ratcheted up its long-term relationship with Fuji, Kodak's archrival in the film business. Fuji is using Xerox color printers in photo print kiosks, direct competition for Kodak. And Kodak is answering back with a new generation of inexpensive-to-run inkjet printers ad multifunctionals, hitting at Xerox (and especially HP) territory.
It's yet another case of corporate convergence. As the article points out, "The new competition illustrates how rapidly changing technology can force companies to challenge corporations that once moved in parallel universes. Telephone carriers and cable-television companies are now battling it out, while cellphone makers will soon compete with Apple Inc. for a mobile-music market once dominated by Sony Corp.'s Walkman."
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