Online book retailer Amazon has revealed its latest venture, a photo printing service known as Amazon Prints, in a move that has disturbed competitors.

The news quickly triggered an eight year low in share prices for fellow US online photo printer Shutterfly Inc, which is a billion dollar company based in California.

Amazon Prints will offer online customers printed photos starting at only 9 cents each, photo booking print for US$20 and the addition of cards and calendars at a later date. This cuts Shutterfly costs by almost half.

Spruiking the service the company says, “Amazon Prints offers high quality, affordable prints of digital photos, delivered by Amazon”.

“Create custom photo books and online photo prints, and receive free standard shipping and free expedited shipping on orders of US$15 or more.”

According to reports, the arrival of Amazon’s print service comes at a high-demand seasonal period for printed images, with some US$2bn spent annually in the US alone.

Earlier this year industry rumours revealed Amazon’s plans to open up to 400 physical bookstores in a step that would likely hurt the independent bookstore business.

The online retailer is credited with the failure of several major bookstore chains, and its foray into the photo printing market has spooked the online photo print industry.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter