Eastman Kodak Co. and Homestore.com. Inc. have formed a three-year agreement aimed at accelerating the growth and use of digital imaging by real estate professionals on the Internet.
The goal is to help consumers view properties over the Web, company officials said. Eastman Kodak and Homestore said they plan to make it easier for real estate workers to post, preview and edit digital images and provide virtual tours for online property listings.
“As consumers increase demand for images in their online property searches, our ability to deliver the most effective imaging technologies to professionals is essential,” said Stuart Wolff, chairman and executive officer of Homestore.com. Inc.
The agreement further calls for Homestore.com. to work with its new partner to add Kodak's digital imaging technologies to its family of sites, including HomeBuilder.com, SpringStreet.com and Homefair.com. Homestore.com also runs Realtor.com, the official site of the National Association of Realtors.
“Images help Internet business thrive, and real estate is a prime example of an online industry that would not prosper without images,” said Carl Gustin, chief marketing officer for Eastman Kodak.
Kodak will also buy targeted sponsorship impressions across Homestore.com's Web sites, Gustin said.
The two companies will also work together on several co-branded, performance-driven Web and off-line marketing campaigns.
Among the new endeavors will be a co-branded Web site designed by Homestore.com, which will offer marketing programs to encourage real estate professionals to increase their use of the Internet in marketing properties with digital images and virtual tours.
