Samsung nets Joe Cole for camera launch

Samsung Cameras has signed up England and Chelsea football star Joe Cole to support its new range of NV series digital cameras.

Cole will appear in a press and outdoor campaign for the three-strong range, including digital panels alongside escalators at Tottenham Court Road Tube station. He will also feature in in-store material and appear at events on behalf of the camera division.

The deal is separate to the South Korean consumer electronics companys 50m sponsorship of Chelsea Football Club, which was signed last year. Samsung also used the clubs manager, Jose Mourinho, in a campaign for a mobile phone handset last year.

Samsung Cameras commercial director Rob King says: This endorsement further reinforces the quality and performance of the NV series and we are positive this partnership will be recognised by consumers as a natural link between a talented sports star and a quality photographic brand.

NV, a range of premium digital compact cameras, is in stores now. The NV3 has a built in MP3 player, stereo speakers and can play films. The NV7 has a large lens, which helps for low lighting, and has two functions, optical picture stabilisation and advanced share reduction, which will help to improve picture quality. The NV7 and NV10 also have touch-screen capabilities.