Walgreens opens smartphone photo software code to third-party developers

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday extended its innovation in mobile technology with the introduction of a developer portal that allows third-party software developers to integrate the Walgreens QuickPrints software development kit, enabling photo printing directly from iPhone and Android mobile devices.



“Our new QuickPrints SDK enables third-party software developers to tap Walgreens Web services, building a broad selection of apps that deliver our convenient store capabilities to more customers,” Walgreens e-commerce chief technical officer Abhi Dhar said.



The launch of the QuickPrints SDK marks the first time that Walgreens has provided an open interface for third-party application developers to integrate Walgreens in-store services. QuickPrints, currently available in the Walgreens iPhone and Android applications, allows mobile users to print photos directly from their phone in about an hour.



"With almost 30% of photos today taken on smartphones and the popularity of photo applications growing, the opportunity for consumers to benefit from the convenience of printing their memories to Walgreens through a variety of photo apps is tremendous,” said Jasbir Patel, senior director of Walgreens photo.



The QuickPrints SDK already has been adopted by GroupShot, Kicksend, Pic Stitch, Pinweel and StillShot, with more partners expected to join the program in the coming weeks. Walgreens also is partnering with Aviary, a digital photo-editing platform currently used by more than 1,200 app developers and 8 million consumers, to leverage its growing group of photo application partners.



To encourage mobile developers to include new features using the QuickPrints SDK within their application, Walgreens will host its first Mobile Photo Hack Day event Aug. 11, at its downtown Chicago e-commerce office at 36 S. Wabash Ave. The event will provide developers the opportunity to meet, collaborate and showcase their creative implementations of the QuickPrints SDK in their applications.



Developer demos will be reviewed by a panel of top industry professionals with a total of $5,000 in cash prizes available to the top developer integrations.