Us Brits do love our photo frames

Digital photo frames have grown in popularity across Western Europe this year. Figures show a 132% volume growth for the first half of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007. According to GFK Retail and Technology in value terms this represents €181 million (approx 153 million pounds).

The report shows that Britain is the second largest market in terms of units sold and revenue, France tops the list. We also have the lowest priced frames with an average cost of €97 (approx £70) while the French are paying around €115-€119.

On the GKF website, Clemence Dulau, Account Director at GfK Retail and Technology UK said: "Great Britain was the first European country to launch this product it is now the most mature market in Western Europe. Great Britain also has a different distribution. 50% of the volume was within the Mass Merchandiser channel for the first half year of 2008 while in other countries the majority of the volume came from Consumer Electronics Stores which account for 57% of the volume in France and even higher at 69% in Germany. The Mass Merchandisers are, in Great Britain, the channel which has seen the largest decrease in average price this year with a drop of €65 between June 2008 and 2007. Conversely analysis highlights a drop of only €10 during the same period in France."

According to GFK the most important feature is still the screen with the majority of photo frames sold across Europe having a 7in screen, with the bigger size screens increasing in popularity.

Some frames feature remote controls and built-in speakers and GKF anticipate the next big feature that could become part of the development of digital photo frames is Wireless Fidelity (WiFi).