Camera Phone Shipments to Reach 850 Million in 2009, Driving Triple Growth in the Number of Prints Generated By These Devices

InfoTrends: Latest camera phone and photo messaging forecast shows worldwide camera phone shipments continuing on a strong growth trajectory, climbing from 370 million units in 2005 to 847 million units in 2009. As an increasing number of users acquire and experiment with camera phones, the volume of images captured, shared, and printed is projected to rise, producing additional revenue for wireless carriers and digital photofinishers alike. InfoTrends/CAP Ventures forecast reveals a 43% CAGR in worldwide camera phone prints between 2005 and 2009, and a more than doubling of photo messaging revenue growth over the same period. Two of the most significant advancements of the year leading to the increase are vast improvements in image quality and the elimination of interoperability barriers between network carriers. 8 megapixel camera phones are already on the market, just 2 years after the first 1 megapixel appeared.. However, multi-megapixel models will appeal to just a few consumers who are willing to pay a premium price. Instead, we believe the mainstream market will level off at the 3 megapixel point, and the megapixel race will slow in favor of advancements in optics and lenses.

EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) was the leading region for camera phone sales in 2005. A major shift in the regional market share of shipments is still underway, however, as camera phone adoption continues to increase in expansive and populous Asian countries like China.

.Worldwide Camera Phone and Photo Messaging Forecast Publ. 20051115