ZEISS. The company is “an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics”, and first worked with Nokia back in the 2000s, before again doing a major deal with the new home of Nokia smartphones, HMD Global, back in 2017.
However, ZEISS has obviously decided it is time to widen its aperture and switch to an ultra-widescreen lens as it looks to optically capture the future, and has done a mobile imaging partnership deal with vivo, a “product-driven, global technology company” from China, with vivo stating “its core business focusing on smart devices and intelligent services”.
As you’d expect, the deal is described as “a long-term strategic partnership to jointly promote and develop breakthrough innovations in mobile imaging technology”, with the “first vivo ZEISS co-engineered imaging system” to be featured in vivo’s upcoming premium smartphones.
As part of the collaboration agreement, vivo and ZEISS say they “will establish the vivo ZEISS Imaging Lab, a joint R&D program to innovate mobile imaging technology for vivo’s flagship smartphones".
In addition to the joint R&D program, the companies will launch the “vivo ZEISS Master Photography” campaign to promote the vivo ZEISS co-engineered imaging system and to inspire users to enjoy their creativity with vivo’s flagship smartphones, and no doubt we’ll hear more about that in the not-too distant future.
Spark Ni, a senior VP and the CMO of vivo said: “Through the partnership, ZEISS imaging technology will be enjoyed by consumers worldwide.
“Based on the synergy and complementarity of optical expertise and new digital technologies, vivo and ZEISS intend to make the strategic collaboration a starting point to create new opportunities for mobile imaging, enable more creativity, so as to support the long-term and healthy development of the entire industry.
Joerg Schmitz, the Head of ZEISS Consumer Products added: “The partnership between vivo and ZEISS is all about mobile imaging.
“The breadth of ZEISS’s decades-long expertise with optical technologies and imaging will enable vivo to enhance the imaging performance of its flagship smartphones.”
The vivo X60 is expected to be the first smartphone to feature the co-developed ZEISS and vivo optics.
Vivo talks up its extensive experience with consumer products, stating that “in the past 25 years, vivo has gained a deep understanding of consumers’ differentiated needs through comprehensive research. With constant consumer insight-driven R&D and innovation efforts, vivo has developed generations of mobile products favored and trusted by consumers.
“In the era of smartphone photography, vivo has anticipated the strong demands of global consumers for mobile imaging innovations. As a result, vivo considers imaging innovation to be one of the most important areas for serving consumers’ needs in the long term. To date, vivo has established image R&D centers globally employing more than 700 R&D staff.
“vivo and ZEISS share the same goals, with an allied focus on premium technology and cutting-edge design. This exemplary mutual compatibility will pave the way for breakthrough innovations, defining a solid foundation which will shape this ongoing strategic global imaging partnership.
“Collaboration between vivo and ZEISS is a milestone case for future mobile imaging. Both parties will work together to facilitate mobile imaging focused on complementary capabilities.
“On the one hand, ZEISS' optical technologies and expertise would significantly improve the optical performance of mobile imaging, taking mobile optical imaging of vivo’s flagship smartphones to a new level.
“On the other hand, vivo, with 380 million users worldwide, has a strong understanding of consumer preferences in mobile imaging.
“With joint development and co-engineering of optical components with ZEISS, combined with vivo's integrated imaging capabilities, vivo will provide consumers worldwide with a more appealing, easier-to-use, and more professional mobile photography experience”, concluded vivo’s media release on the groundbreaking new collaboration.
