Camera Phone Will Take Over Low-End Market - Press Release

[Photo-John]

My question is..... When will they come with interchangable lenses ;)

You're joking. But that really is the question. Or rather - how much will camera phones be able to offer? What features will they incorporate? They already have 3+ megapixels of resolution, flashes, and zooms lenses. I'm curious to see how good the optics and exposure options will get. If they imrpove them enough to really rival current 3-5 megapixel point-and-shoot digitals, that will be very impressive.

[mdcalaska]

Quick history recap of the Camera Phone:

Becomes the "IN Thing" in Japan - everyone owns one.

Introduced same Phone models in US

US Customer hesitates after seeing junky, low res that results in a "Pixelated" 4x6 print, Hoped for sales stall in US.

Motorola ( approaching Bankrupcy) designs and builds Camera Phone with decent resolution/improved optics. Becomes highest demand Phone in US market. Motorola survives and hires back many pink-slipped employees.

Generation Y walks around with iPod on waist and Camera Phone in hand. Becomes a "Target" for us in the retail photofiishing industry to sell "Prints" to. Kodak races to add Bluetooth/IRDA readers to Print Station kiosks. (although "Kodak racing" is same as entering Sumo wrestler in 200 meter dash )

Now Baby-boomers/Gen x are buying Camera Phones and looking for prints. (We are still losing Gen Y to the new iPod with viewing screen)

Companies/Government Agencies get seriously concerned over security issues with people now able to take pictures of sensitive areas,documents, etc. - start banning cell phones in some situations.

Now Photofinishing Retailers ( like me) are hitting up executive management for the funds to upgrade to Camera Phone readers ( same Sumo wrestler , but in 400 meter race )

The Camera phones are here to stay and will get much, much better . I'm sure many Phone makers are starting to think in terms of being able to price high enough if they argue the Customer can pass on a digital point-n-shoot camera purchase. That will allow them to add more expensive optics and better interpolation software.

All pretty wild and exciting -looks like most new purchasers are buying the 2.0 megapixel models these days. I know I asked - and got- a substantial investment in upgrades to handle reading them.

Sounds like Sony,Nokia, and Samsung learned from getting caught on the Quality-too-low US marketing and will come out with some really high end models.