Camera Phones Account for 87% of Mobile Phone Shipments in 2010

InfoTrends: projects that worldwide camera phone shipments will grow from 233 million units in 2004 to 903 million units in 2010. By 2010, camera phones are expected to account for 87% of all mobile phone handsets shipped.

Worldwide Mobile Phone and Camera Phone Shipments (M)

The primary drivers behind this explosion are improvements in imaging functions (i.e. image sensors, zoom, and auto focus); rapid declines in prices for this functionality; higher speed wireless bandwidth; and easier-to-use handsets, services, and peripherals.

IThere is a growing population of consumers that value the imaging function of their mobile phone,. These consumers are willing to pay more for their handset; tend to take, share, and print more pictures with their camera phone; and spend more per month on wireless services. Vendors need a product and marketing strategy to appeal to this lucrative imaging-centric market segment.

• The total number of images captured on camera phones will reach 228 billion by 2010, exceeding the number of photos taken on digital still cameras and film cameras combined.

• For many consumers, the camera phone will be their everyday camera. Camera phones will put immense competitive pressures on one-time use cameras and low-end cameras.

• The rapid growth of camera phones will create growing opportunities for printing and sharing of images. The value of camera phone photo printing will reach approximately $7.0 billion by 2010, approximately 60% of which will take place in the home.

Image messaging revenue will reach $6.8 billion by 2010, and will increasingly become a part of other value-added multimedia services. Mobile Imaging Study

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