The business model for carriers centered on users displaying and sending images wirelessly. More recently, higher-end wireless phones offer the ability to display and send digital video images as well.

The marketplace is not all positive. Customers are disappointed with camera phone resolution, the cost of forwarding pictures, and the lack of interoperability with other carrier networks. In addition, the majority of users own higher-resolution digital cameras, which makes purchasing a low-resolution cameraphone less compelling. In-Stat commissioned a survey of end-users to help anticipate the direction of this market, as to whether instant messaging with images will take off, customers will demand higher resolution devices, consumers will just carry a high resolution camera, or whether cameraphones will fade away as an option.

Members Only: Full text HTML , PDF Purchase This Research Online Contact a Sales Representative