How common are cellphone cameras in the States?

[AndrewR]

I finally broke down and got a cellphone here in Japan so I can stay in touch when at dive sites (particularly in case of emergency but also for coordination with friends). The only models I could choose from (bilingual ones) were ones with cameras, and it looked like the majority of the Japanese-only phones had cameras as well.

Are they very common in the US or just starting to catch on? I haven't been back in 20 months.

 

[MDE]

They're starting to catch on, and are getting pretty popular. There's been a LOT of people getting really paraniod about privacy issues in bathrooms\changing rooms, etc. People are overreacting so much that the Elk Grove Park District (just north of Chicago) has banned ALL cell phones from their bathrooms\locker rooms.

 

[Gravity]

I wanted one but I am using NExtel and they won't have them for another year. Got a radio built into it though, and a GPS>

 

[dc]

docomo? 3g? which model?

 

[kami333]

It's getting more common but not as fast as it did in Japan. I got my first camera phone in Japan 2.5years ago and from what I see from what my friends have (being college age it's a biased sample), the US is about 2years behind Japan.

 

[acidvoodoo]

they're starting taking off here in the UK too

 

[Thegonagle]

The majority (I'd guess 65-80% if I had to) of models available here do not have a camera. I'm sure sales of camera phones still accounts for well under half of new cell phones sold. (I'd say probably under 40%, again, if I had to guess.)

 

Most do not, but the cell phone providers and manufacturers are definitely pushing them. There are also lots of security issues with corporations, as well. My sister works for a drug company, and they don't allow camera phones at all in their facility, since it could do a lot of damage if someone used one maliciously.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Most do not, but the cell phone providers and manufacturers are definitely pushing them. There are also lots of security issues with corporations, as well. My sister works for a drug company, and they don't allow camera phones at all in their facility, since it could do a lot of damage if someone used one maliciously.

Jumpr, for you information, you will not get away with this. It has to stop right there. Enjoy until your time is up.











He, he, seriously though, just got one for my wife, she loves it. I asked her to not make a big deal about it so they don't get banned @ her workplace. From playing with it, I can see that in a few years, they'll be uber cool with a few more megapixels. Now it's sort of a novelty.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Starting to catch on.

Andrew - just curious - what branch of the military are you in? I know you've mentioned it a few times, I've just forgotten

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
They're starting to catch on, and are getting pretty popular. There's been a LOT of people getting really paraniod about privacy issues in bathrooms\changing rooms, etc. People are overreacting so much that the Elk Grove Park District (just north of Chicago) has banned ALL cell phones from their bathrooms\locker rooms.

whoa. i totally didnt think ppl would use their camera phones for this purpose.

 

[Kadarin]

My cellphone has a camera.

 

[McCarthy]

My cellphone places and receives phone calls.

Something that seems to get lost in the PDA/Gameboy/digicam aspect of current phones. Digital, great, now I can listen to hollow tinny 1992 Realaudio 1Kb/s garbled audio instead of occasional static. Phones so small the mouthpiece is mid cheek requiring the microphone to be sensitive enough to pick up what the user is saying I get to hear what ever the world surrounding them is up to as well. Of course they don't know this because they can't hear me unless I'm shouting (on my cell or landline) so their tiny little speaker can get some sound to their ear.

But at least there are customized ringtones so if there are actually two people left in a store (or movie, or restroom) not yacking on the phone the other one won't have to wonder if it's their phone ringing.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Was in the attic tinkering on the furnace this morning & called my wife in the house from my cell. Saved a lot of shouting & made her laugh

 

[TommyVercetti]

Originally posted by: McCarthy
My cellphone places and receives phone calls.

You don't say?

 

[DaWhim]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
My cellphone has a camera.

must be a verizon user?

 

[dullard]

Some people have them, and the number is growing, however it is still uncommon. Price is one big problem. You frequently have the choice: (a) a free cell phone that does everything you need except take pictures or (b) a $200-$300 cell phone that takes crappy pictures. For many people the choice is obvious to take the free cell phone and spend the money you save on a quality digital camera if you want one. Plus many of the cell phone plans here charge through the roof for every picture sent from the phone.