MySpace-HP picture alliance (AFP)
15 minutes ago
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - MySpace and Hewlett Packard on Tuesday announced an alliance aimed at getting people to print out more of the billions of pictures digitally stored at the world's leading social networking website.
The US technology titans said the "strategic business relationship" will integrate HP software into MySpace, particularly in photo sections, to make it easier to print comments, messages, blogs, pictures and other content.
"Sharing and storing photos online is integral to the social networking experience and one of the most popular activities on MySpace," said the News Corp-owned firm's chief executive, Chris DeWolfe.
"The MySpace platform is home to approximately four billion images and our users, from teens to grandparents, will now have an easier way to share their digital assets."
Virtual buttons are being installed on MySpace to let users print without leaving profile pages. The alliance will eventually allow people to emblazon images from MySpace on coffee mugs, T-shirts and other items.
"We are unlocking content from user profiles, friend's comments, and photos that were previously only viewable online," said HP Imaging and Printing Group vice president Vyomesh Joshi.
"Ultimately HP is enabling MySpace users to experience their content and to tell their story in a whole new way."