Camera Cell Phones - Are Among One Of The Many Great Wireless Phones

The most popular types of cell phones today are camera cell phones, PDA cell phones and GPS cell phones. Camera phones are perhaps the fastest growing aspect of the cell phone world. Whoever would have thought that cell phones would provide such strong competition to the camera industry?

Camera cell phones are immensely popular. Industry analysts have predicted that they will be the most popular consumer device in history. In 2003 12% of all cell phones sold were camera phones and that number appears to be rising steadily. According to IDC, a research firm, more than 80 million camera phones have been sold worldwide.

Many people have taken pictures of accident scenes, and even crime scenes. In 2003 CNN reported on a 15 year old boy who used his camera phone to snap a picture of a man who allegedly tried to lure him into a car. The pictures led directly to the man’s capture. Everyday people are becoming news photographers, selling there “first on the scene” photos of crime scenes and accidents to TV stations everywhere.

Who Is Using Them

Camera phones are increasingly being used by small businesses. They use them to provide proof that a job has been finished, or to take pictures of a needed part. Real estate agents are forwarding pictures of properties to prospective buyers. Insurance agents are using them to speed up accident and property damage claims. In 2003 BBC launched a news segment called Picture Phones, where viewers can contribute newsworthy photos taken with their telephones.

Shoppers are snapping pictures of items they are interested in and sending them to friends and family for advice on whether or not they should buy an item, or which of a few similar items is the best buy.

A New York based company, Scan Buy, has developed a camera phone application that will use the camera to scan bar codes and trigger automatic downloads of coupons, product reviews and other information about the item that carried the bar code. It might also be able to tell you which nearby stores might offer the product at a reduced price. Scan Buy is working with Ericsson to develop this technology, competitors are working hard to bring such a phone to the market first.

There is more exciting mobile technology appearing all the time. Nokia’s new camera phone (model 3650) can take video clips as well as photos, there is even Fast Chat service that can turn this phone into a video conferencing tool.

Whats New

Sprint’s newer camera cell phones feature a MobiTV service that allows you to view any of 13 TV channels. Sony Ericsson is soon to offer a phone with 1.3 mega pixel CCD, which will improve picture quality. The company also offers a new device that will allow users to send pictures from their phones to TV sets and digital projectors.

What many find amazing is that this stuff is not science fiction. Most of these camera cell phone features are already in service. At the rate camera phones are exploding on to the market and all the features offered, they are poised to give camera manufacturers a run for their money. The cell phone carriers are so anxious to have you sign with them that currently ( March 2004) you can actually get a camera phone for free and you even get a rebate, so you can make money. Of course you have to sign a long term (1-3 year) contract.

Take Care

There are some real security issues surrounding camera cell phones. There have been reports of people using camera phones to capture credit card numbers and other personal information, and transmitting the info to a third party. I don’t know if this has ever really occurred, but with the ever improving resolutions of camera phone pictures, the possibility is certainly there.

The cameras can certainly capture pin numbers as you punch them in at an ATM or cash register. Camera phones have also been used to take locker room pictures. While researching camera cell phones, a site was found that boasted “butt pix” taken with camera cell phones. Like anything else, camera cell phones can be abused. Even if you have a camera phone, be aware that other owners may not be as innocent in the use of theirs.