Camera phone sales on upswing

Sales of camera phones worldwide in 2005 are projected to reach 295.5 million, according to market researcher Gartner.

And phones with embedded cameras will make up 38 percent of all mobile phones shipped during the year, Gartner projected. Camera phones accounted for 14 percent of shipments last year.

In North America, camera phone sales are likely to reach 70 million units, or 47 percent of total phone sales, in 2005. In Europe this figure is 85 million, or 55 percent, of total mobile phone sales. Almost 92 percent of all phones sold in Japan have a camera.

"The trend for camera phones first took hold in Asian markets such as South Korea and Japan," Carolina Milanesi, principal analyst at Gartner, said Thursday in a statement. "It has quickly become a global phenomenon as mobile phone users around the world have been captivated by the idea."

The declining cost of integrating cameras into mobile phones will drive future growth, Gartner said. Over the next four years, the cost of putting a 1-megapixel camera into a phone may be halved, Gartner predicts. Advanced markets such as Japan and South Korea lead in sales of phones with higher-megapixel resolution.

By 2009, almost half of camera phones sold in Japan will have more than 3 megapixels. In other markets, 1.3 megapixels is now the minimum standard. There will be a shift towards 2-megapixel models in 2006, Gartner said.

While camera phone sales are up, there are concerns about the technology leading to invasions of privacy. Some countries have restricted the use of such phones in public places.

[baggyguy1218]

Like anyone has a choice...

...to buy anything but a camera phone. If you go to a carriers store your pushed torwards the camera phones and plus the non-camera phones are not very appealing. Its likely to become a market of camera phones. The news papers and stations hype up this revolution of camera phones so people actually think they have a choice and most people are opting for a camera phone. Some day no one will be safe from a marketing blitz...good day.

[RickMan2K]

Choice is Needed

A good phone without a camera would be a good change of pace. I am in the technology industry and I would be unable to bring my phone with me to several clients if I had a camera phone, they are a security risk. Also lawyers that appear in court cannot have camera phones either. The company that I am with does not have blueTooth phone without camera's unless you get the $600-$800 PDA phones. Too much bulk for me, and I need that wireless headset, so I had to opt for the Jabra A210 to make any phone with a 2.5 jack a bluetooth (somewhat) enabled phone. The phone makers and wireless companies are missing out on a good niche by not having a phone with all the other popular features, without a camera.

[Chris123456]

In the EU

Here in Europe it is impossible to find a phone without a camera.

All teens and young adults have phones with cameras...

On this front the EU is light years ahead of the US and Canada.

[Marcus Westrup]

Ahead or behind?

You make it sound like it's a good thing all phones come with a camera.
Many places now ban ALL types of camera; banks, gyms, factories, even university class rooms. If the phone can't come with you everywhere, why have one at all?

[MrNougat]

Camera phones are ridiculous

By the time cam phones in the US market get to any reasonable resolution (3MP), real digital cameras for the masses will probably be at 12MP. Camera phones will always, comparatively speaking, take grainy, blurry pictures.

[steelpig]

No Choice

To get a half way decent phone you HAVE to buy a camera phone.

I don?t want a camera phone, I don?t want a color screen that I CANT SEE in sunlight, I don?t want games, I don?t want an adolescents toy.

I want a rock solid business tool that get great reception, can be used and seen in all light conditions, has great sound both sending and receiving, that I cant sync the address book with a Mac or PC via BlueTooth or USB, with text that can be seen by somebody in their forties.

[Earl Benser]

LOL.....

... the phone people don't want to sell phones, they want to sell
gimmicks. Phones are too hard to make work right as straight
communications devices.

I guess that's why my cell phone hasn't left the kitchen drawer is
over two months. And my Sprint plan may have already expired.
That would be nice.....