Kohei Kawashima

IdeaSync, a Tokyo-based IT solution provider/equipment marketer, has started free online Dprint services called 'Priea' in Japan, offering up to 30 D-prints at one time and up to twice a month (totally 60 D-prints a month) free of charge to each registered member. Anyone can become a member by simply completing registration procedures over the Internet without paying any member fee. Members just transmit digital data online to Priea's exclusive website. Then, within a week, Priea sends L-size prints free of charge and postage prepaid by Priea. Priea covers all expenses including postage by adding a logo of a sponsor in a corner of each print. IdeaSync has also started to offer a free space for an online album of up to 2GB to each Priea member. Any member can upload digital images to the online album for sharing images with friends or relatives, but the online album is for browsing only (no downloading). 'Free offers' are not unusual in services over the Internet, but the new service by IdeaSync offering free services physically is unique.

JAFCO Group Co. Ltd. (JAFCO Group) is the private equity arm of the parent firm, JAFCO (TSE: 8595), founded in 1973. The firm is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.