Nikon, Fujitsu establish firmware development company

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Nikon, Fujitsu establish firmware development company
By Mike Tomkins
(Friday, July 3, 2009 - 00:20 EDT)

Japan's Nikon Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd. are to cooperate on development of firmware for digital cameras and lenses, courtesy of a new joint venture company: Nikon Imaging Systems Inc.

As of July 1st, the new company has now been established by Fujitsu Broad Solution & Consulting Inc. and Nikon Systems Inc. - the latter of which has been responsible for creating the firmware in Nikon Corp.'s digital camera products to date. Fujitsu has significant software experience, and Nikon's alliance with the company is indicative of the increasingly important role that firmware has to play in the digital camera market. The joint venture will be responsible solely for development of firmware to be used in Nikon's digital cameras and lenses.

Nikon Imaging Systems Inc. is scheduled to begin operations from August 1st 2009, and will have approximately 100 employees. Nikon is providing approximately 70% of the ¥95 million required to get the ball rolling, while Fujitsu will add the remainder. The board of Nikon Imaging Systems will have five members, of which Nikon will provide four individuals.

More details can be found in the official press release, below.

Original Source Press Release:

Nikon Systems Inc. and Fujitsu Broad Solution & Consulting Inc. establish a joint company

June 30, 2009 - Nikon Corporation (Michio Kariya, President) announces that Nikon Systems Inc. (Masao Hagimoto, President), a subsidiary of Nikon Corporation, and Fujitsu Broad Solution & Consulting Inc. (Takao Kaneko, President; hereafter, Fujitsu BSC) establish a new joint company, named "Nikon Imaging Systems Inc.". The company will be solely responsible for the firmware development in Nikon digital cameras. Nikon Imaging Systems Inc. will initiate operations in August 2009.

Firmware is the software built into devices that provides fundamental control over hardware. As the performance of digital devices becomes higher, so does the importance of firmware. To date, all firmware installed in Nikon digital cameras has been developed by Nikon Corporation and its subsidiary, Nikon Systems Inc.

The new company is dedicated exclusively to the firmware development for Nikon digital cameras. The objective of the company will be to proceed with the establishment of firmware platforms and to accelerate the speed and quality of firmware development by merging the long experienced mechatronics control and image processing technologies established in Nikon Corporation and Nikon Systems Inc. with the software technology, know-how, and resources provided by Fujitsu BSC.

Outline of the New Company

Name of the company Nikon Imaging Systems Inc.
Date of establishment Scheduled for July 1, 2009
Start of operations Scheduled for August 1, 2009
Location of head office 6-3, Nishi-Ohi 1-chome, Shinagawa-Ku, Tokyo
President Toshiyuki Tsukiji
Capital ¥95,000,000
Ratio of investment 70% from Nikon Systems Inc.
30% from Fujitsu BSC
Board structure 4 officers from Nikon Corporation/Nikon Systems Inc.
1 officer from Fujitsu BSC
Number of employees Approximately 100
Main business Development of firmware for Nikon digital cameras and interchangeable lenses

Outline of Fujitsu BSC

Location of head office 2-3-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
President Takao Kaneko
Consolidated sales ¥33,822,000,000 (as of fiscal year ending March 31, 2009)
Number of employees 1,877 (as of March 31, 2009)
Business fields Software development and sales of software services and solutions
The information is current as of the date of publication. It is subject to change without notice.

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