Microsoft Announces Canon’s Support Of Media Transfer Protocol in Digital Still Cameras

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 22, 2004 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that its new Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) will be supported by Canon Inc., a leader in the field of professional and consumer imaging equipment and information systems. Canon, one of the market leaders in adopting and promoting Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP), now plans to incorporate support for MTP into its future digital camera product offerings. This announcement coincides with next week’s 2004 Photokina trade show and signifies a premier industry relationship for Microsoft, introducing one of the most advanced technologies yet for image acquisition to a Windows® based PC.

Based on the popular PTP, MTP enables the transfer of media such as images to and from a broad range of devices, while delivering enhanced device management and significant performance improvements for today’s new classes of portable media devices. MTP over IP (MTP/IP) extends the applicability of this exciting technology to networked and wireless devices. Canon’s adoption of MTP/IP for its future wireless digital cameras will significantly improve the image acquisition experience for both consumers and professionals, enabling ubiquitous, high-performance connectivity. Among its benefits, MTP/IP provides vastly improved support for transferring large quantities of data from a device, while also enabling faster thumbnail viewing for photographers with large storage media in their devices. MTP/IP also eliminates much of the complexity inherent in wireless connectivity for professional photographers and will enable new scenarios for all enthusiasts.

“MTP offers the ability to enhance the performance of cameras when used with the PC by improving the speed of downloading high-quality digital images,” said Tomonori Iwashita, director and deputy chief executive of the Image Communication Products Group at Canon. “There’s intrinsic value in finding a protocol that can scale within the digital imaging industry as well as extend across a wide variety of consumer electronics devices. With MTP/IP for our future wireless products, and MTP for our wired products, we’re increasing the ease of use and value of our products to consumers, while furthering our opportunities for growth and partnership within the industry.”

As a set of extensions to PTP, a protocol that allows digital still cameras to connect to PCs, printers and other devices, MTP broadens this standard to encompass a far wider range of digital media that goes beyond images. It is a freely available specification for all device vendors. As a result, device manufacturers can now use MTP to support the transfer of content across a spectrum of devices, from digital still cameras to portable music players and cell phones.

“With the phenomenal growth of digital photography, we have been looking to enhance the performance and features of communication protocols between Windows-based PCs and cameras, especially as these devices grow to include other features such as video, sound and music,” said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. “As such, we are especially pleased to be working with Canon, one of the industry leaders in digital photography, as it implements MTP and specifically MTP/IP in its line of wireless digital cameras.”

About Canon

Canon Inc. (NYSE “CAJ”), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leader in the field of professional and consumer imaging equipment and information systems. Originally established in 1937 as a camera manufacturer, Canon’s extensive range of products now includes copiers, Bubble Jet and laser printers, cameras, video equipment, medical equipment and semiconductor-manufacturing equipment. The company has manufacturing and marketing subsidiaries in Japan, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania, and a global R & D network with companies based in the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. Canon’s consolidated net sales for fiscal 2003 (ended December 31, 2003) totalled $29.9 billion (at an exchange rate of 107 = US$1). Visit the Canon Inc. website at: www.canon.com/index.html .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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