MARCH 21--Digital cameras attached to cellular phones are expected to outsell stand-alone digital still cameras this year, with 50 million or more camera phones shipping in 2003, according to a report by Future Image Inc. (San Mateo, CA). Other market researchers are projecting that camera phone shipments will total 40 million--80 million attachments this year, as the trend spreads from Japan and Korea to Western markets.
Digital still cameras (DSCs) are selling well; sales are expected to increase 28% this year to 31.45 million units, according to the Camera and Imaging Products Association. Last year, DSC sales jumped 66%, but camera phone sales increased fivefold and are likely to double again this year.
The report by Future Image, which tracks the Internet imaging and digital photography markets, noted that camera phone sales have soared from the appearance of the first camera-phone in November 2000. It took a decade for DSCs to reach sales of 25 million units a year, whereas camera phones will reach the 25 million level in only three years, the report noted.
By 2004, camera phones may outsell the combination of DSCs and traditional film cameras. About 60 million conventional film cameras are expected to be sold this year, not counting disposable, one-time-use film cameras.
The resolution of camera phones is increasing, with one-megapixel cameras phone expected to reach the market soon, with 2- and 3-Mpixel phones to follow shortly. Micron Technology Inc. (Boise, Idaho), for example, recently announced a line of VGA-resolution CMOS image sensors aimed at the camera phone market.
