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General Electric Co. (GE) and corporate newcomer General Imaging Co. announced the two companies have reached an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement by which General Imaging will design, manufacture and distribute an all-new line of GE-branded digital cameras.

Headquartered in Torrance, Calif., General Imaging brings together a variety of photo industry veterans. Komiya is a former president of Olympus Imaging Corp. Leading sales efforts in North America will be Rene Buhay, a former vice president of Global Sales for ArcSoft who had also headed North American sales for both Samsung and Ricoh. Noted industrial designer Takeyoshi Kawano will be the company's chief designer. Kawano's design credits include the Sony Walkman, the Sony VAIO computer, and the Olympus Stylus camera series.

"Style will play an important part in our product development," Kawano noted. "Consumers are demanding not just advanced features but stylish designs. We're responding to that demand with cameras that are a statement of style and at the same time have all the latest technology."

According to Kawano, advanced features such as image stabilization, high ISO sensitivity, and panoramic stitching will be standard on all models. Entry-level GE digital cameras will start with 7 megapixels of resolution and 2.5-inch LCD screens. Higher-end GE cameras will offer up to 12 megapixels of resolution and 3-inch LCD screens. A photo printer will also be included in the line.