E1 mobile imaging: paradigm shift or technology bubble?

The idea of having a phone that can communicate visual information in addition to voice has been around for a long time. Since the late 1960s phone companies have tried repeatedly to develop and market landline based Picture Phones to consumers without any success. In late 1990's the first mobile phones with cameras were introduced in Japan. After their introduction, sales of mobile phone cameras grew quickly. By 2002 mobile phone cameras were being introduced throughout Asia, the US, and Europe. In 2003 almost 70 million mobile phone cameras were sold. It is expected that more than 150 million mobile phone cameras will be sold in 2004. Mobile phone cameras represent the largest and fastest growing market for solid-state image sensors in the world.