Camera phones to outsell digital cameras by ’04

NEW DELHI: Wireless camera phones will outsell digital still cameras by 2004. 16 million camera phones were sold worldwide in 2002 and the number is expected to grow to 147 million in 2007. By comparison, more than 22 million digital still cameras will be sold worldwide in 2003.

These were some of the findings of the Global Camera Phone Industry survey conducted by Samsung. Strategy Analytics and IDC issued the report.

Other findings include: One in every five cellular handsets sold in 2007 will contain an embedded camera and expansion camera modules are short-term solutions for current limited, niche demand. Camera PDAs, accounting for six percent of global PDA sales in 2007, will be less prominent than camera phones.

IDC also predicts a strong growth in MMS subscribers with camera phones. The number of wireless MMS subscribers will grow at a CAGR of 178 percent through 2007, reaching 36 million MMS subscribers with camera phones and 16 million MMS subscribers without camera phones. Consumers with MMS-capable devices with cameras will become the majority of the MMS consumer market as soon as late next year.

"Camera phones in India will be an essential tool in driving handset replacement rates in the next five years. The replacement market in India is increasing and we see a great opportunity here," said Samsung India Electronics Ltd Country Head (Telecom), Marketing & Infrastructure Anuj Kapur.

(CNS)