July 4, 2003
How camera phones will affect print and digital cameras
By 2005, sales of camera-phones are likely to outsell film and digital cameras put together, according to market research firm IDC, reports The Economist in an article wondering if camera-phones are good or bad news for the photography industry.
"Camera-phones might also hasten the decline of printed photos. As handsets improve, viewing images on-screen could become the norm, whether on phones, PCs, televisions, or even by beaming photos to a wireless-enabled picture frame next to Grandma's chair".
I'm not sure about this last point as the Economist does not take into account the many Cell Phone Printer projects by company greats such as Kodak and HP, allowing to print directly from a handset, not over the Internet but in physical locations such as shopping malls or selected outlets. But I do go along with the the author of this article when he says that no one knows where this is going. That's for sure.
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