Zach Morris' cell phone was larger than most people's cordlesshome phones.
Over the years, though, those cell phones of the past developedinto slick, compact gadgets, most able to fit in the palm of one'shand. Along with structure updates, functions like text messagingand Internet were added, making cell phones a multi-functionalmust-have.
But just when it seemed like the phones couldn't get any moreversatile--they did.
Camera phones, and even videophones, have arrived; causing astir among young and old, in their free time and at theworkplace.
Picturephoning.com, a Web site devoted to exploring the world ofpicture and videophones, states that Sprint sold the firstintegrated camera phone in the United States in 2001 and announcedin 2003 that over 10 million pictures had been sent over its PCSnetwork in merely the second quarter. In July, Sprint released theUnited States' first megapixel camera phone.
With continuous upgrades, the camera phone market is anythingbut slowing. According to U.S.-based market research group StrategyAnalytics, sales of camera-equipped phones outnumbered those ofdigital cameras last year for the first time, rising almostfive-fold from 2002 to 84 million.
Sylvia Manrique, of public relations for Cingular Wireless, saidthe camera phones vary in standards, depending on the user'splanned purposes.
"Now, we have so many customers and so many people that needphones," Manrique said. "The key is to have a diverse line-up. Westill have phones for people who just want to make calls, but wealso have the more advanced phones. It just depends on what segmentof the population is using them."
In an article by CNN Money, it's stated that one in six mobilephones sold last year had a digital camera in it, an almostfive-fold increase over 2002, with Asian vendors leading theway.
Manrique says the popularity of the phones is because of theirability to appeal to and match the personality of the user.
"Cell phones have gone from being a safety device to being anextension of someone's personality," Manrique said. "With thedifferent ring tones and different covers that are available, youcan find something that means something to you. They have becomesomething more than just a phone; they've become something fun tohave. It's convenient to have a phone and camera in one. It's funto take photos and send text along with them, and you have it withyou, so in a spontaneous moment, like maybe if you spot acelebrity, you can take a picture. It adds some spice to life."
The evolving cycle of the cell phone, though already great, isnot over yet, said Manrique.
"We have made a lot of strides," Manrique said. "I think thesky's the limit as to what to do with phones. It's to the pointwhere soon, with the latest generation of technology, people willbe able to send anything from anywhere to anywhere."
Amateur photographers and directors may now hone their skills,from college campuses to professional workplaces to concerts andbig events. The range, unlike some calling plans, is unlimited.
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