User-generated Frenzy is Fueling Growth at Flip Camcorder Manufacturer

Via CNN (CNN Money):

One man recently sent footage shot from the front of his dog sled in Alaska. Another shared video of his Lasik eye-surgery. The lead singer of a band recorded his view while crowd surfing. A congressman gave constituents a tour of his D.C. office.

Thanks to such user-generated content, upstart Pure Digital is holding its own in the competitive consumer-electronics world, which is dominated by big conglomerates such as Sony, Panasonic and Samsung.

Since launching the Flip in May 2007, the company has shipped nearly two million devices. Models range from $149 to $230 and are sold online and at retailers like Wal-Mart, Costco and Target.

Pure Digital's edge: It is transforming the camcorder market by making it simple to shoot and share video. "The ease of use is incredibly seductive," says Amazon.com vice-president of electronics, Paul Ryder. "You take a quick video, plug the device into computer, and immediately upload to the web."

Read the full article here.