Camera-phones: Market analysis and forecasts 2003-2009

February 18, 2004

Camera-phones were only introduced into the market towards the end of 2002 and the market is booming, with forecast annual growth rates of over 50 per cent for the next four or five years. With an estimated 55 million camera-phones sold worldwide in 2003, accounting for 14 per cent of total handset shipments, camera-phone sales have already outpaced those of digital cameras in the first half of the year, as well as surpassed the sales of PDAs.

The rise of camera-phones and smartphones is one reason behind what is a global handset recovery. Attracted to new designs, expanded features and capabilities, and falling prices, consumers are flocking to purchase new phones, poised to begin a prolonged replacement cycle as they upgrade to next-generation, colour-screen models. Replacement rates in mature markets and new subscribers in emerging markets will keep yearly handset sales at around the 460-million mark in the near-term, until 2007/2008.

This report examines at the technology used in camera-phones, offering comparative looks of current and future advances. It looks at the market worldwide and by region, providing growth forecasts. And it offers risks and recommendations, and factors and hurdles to consider with regards to their adoption, including regulatory, pricing and marketing issues.

With over 140-pages packed with information on the current and future technologies, aswell as comparisons of the European, North American and Asian markets. Plus it analyses the future of these services, the marketing strategies behind them and how operators can maximise revenues now and in the coming years.