by Nicki Marks

Created on: September 16, 2008

Camera phones are a big deal now a days. The camera is a standard feature on most phones. Even pay as you go cell phones have the option of a camera now. But the question remains: will they replace our digital cameras? I think the answer is yes. While right now most camera phones take standard quality pictures without the flash option so that they're usually dark and blurry, pretty soon they'll advance to the digital camera level. I'm sure some phones are there already, or close. It's not so much a matter of designing the technology as being able to afford it.

Printers can now print directly from a compatible phone, and for those without a printer you can send your pictures to an online photo album. With these options you can save and print your pictures just as you would a digital camera. There is even less hassle because you simply send the picture directly from the phone. There are no memory cards to replace or worry about. The phone is also a lot more portable than a camera and you're more likely to have it with you when a spontaneous photo opportunity occurs. It's also harder to use, and phone insurance is a common protection that would also be protecting your camera since it would be part of your phone.

I have even seen a Kodak picture maker that can accept picture messages from certain brands of cell phone. It's not that hard to imagine the digital camera one day being replaced by the camera phone. It's easier, more accessible, and more common. People who don't have a digital camera probably have a cell phone, and if you combined the two then it would save on the number of items you carry around as well as cost. It wouldn't be so good for the digital camera makers, however. They might just have to team up with cell phone companies and strike a deal to make sure they get their share of the bargain.

The down side is that once this idea becomes popular, companies will start to charge more for this feature. I predict that when the cell phone camera craze really takes off there will be higher costs for printing and for picture packages. They may even start charging to take pictures, or to have the camera on your phone activated. This is just speculation of course, but many things that used to be free have been changed over the years. Music downloads cost more and are harder to get. But overall the idea that a phone can act as your camera is revolutionary, and I hope to see it happen in the near future.

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