Panasonic Forms a Partnership with DIVA (USA) to Enhance Network Functions in Digital Cameras

Panasonic Corporation announced today that it has formed a partnership with DIVA Networks Inc.1 (headquarters: Wyoming, USA; hereafter referred to as "DIVA"), a venture company in cloud services development, for comprehensive global collaboration on cloud photo platforms to create new value for digital cameras.

Panasonic Corporation has invested capital in DIVA and will undertake the following collaboration.

DIVA will develop cloud services to easily edit and share high quality photos through an intuitive interface, with the intention of global expansion, while Panasonic links these services to equipment such as digital cameras and other devices, to improve their usability and utilize these services in marketing.

Combining DIVA’s knowhow in cloud services and Panasonic’s capabilities in technology development to develop new products designed for the cloud era.

The demand for quickly sharing pictures taken with family and friends has increased dramatically with the spread of smartphones and social networking services; one study has shown that every day around 500 million photos are shared on the Internet worldwide2. The diversification of needs has led to rising demand for easy sharing of high quality, authentic photos as well as low resolutions ones.

To meet these needs, Panasonic has developed the DMC-CM1 communication camera integrating high-speed mobile (LTE) communication functions into an authentic digital camera, beginning trials in Europe in November 2014. It has the world’s slimmest3 pocket size, yet takes high quality photos as good as a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera which can immediately be uploaded to social networking services. Reaction to the camera is enthusiastic - it won the Photokina Star 2014 Award at Photokina 2014,4 the world’s biggest photo show which is held in Germany.

Panasonic formed a partnership with DIVA recently through which it will accelerate still further the integration of communications into digital cameras, creating products that will give users exciting new experiences in photography mixed with the joy of sharing such.

1. Company name: DIVA Networks Inc. Established: October 2013
Business areas: Development of communications platforms and architecture using cloud

2. Number of photos posted on main social networking services / chat sites. According to a study by a US private research company.

3. For a digital camera with a 1.0 sensor, as of September 16, 2014; research by Panasonic.

4. Date: Tuesday September 16 to Sunday September 21, 2014 Location: Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and engineering of electronic technologies and solutions for customers in residential, non-residential, mobility and personal applications. Since its founding in 1918, the company has expanded globally and now operates around 500 consolidated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.74 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2014. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company strives to create a better life and a better world for its customers. For more information about Panasonic, please visit the company’s website at http://panasonic.net/.