Vodafone introduces first one megapixel handset in the U.K.

From picturephoning.com I learned that Vodafone will introduce the first one megapixel camera phone in the U.K. and the first in Europe. According to an article in 160 characters, the phone, Sharp GX30, will be available in retail stores next month.

This clamshell shaped handset is a very feature-rich phone. According to reports in 160 characters and InfoSync, the quad band GSM Sharp GX30 features a resolution of 858 x 1144, Flash, user-controlled shutter speed, an internal color screen capable of displaying 262,144 colors, a 16-bit external color display, Bluetooth, an MP3 player and an SD/MMC slot.

What I don't know is whether Vodafone will allow users to transmit a one megapixel file over the network or whether it will limit the file to a much smaller size. Also, I don't know whether Vodafone will promote alternatives to transmitting photos over the air, such as using kiosks for printing photos.

The start of a tipping point in Europe

I believe, and have written numerous time, that one megapixel cameras will be a turning point because they will enable users to print photos with good quality. In addition, higher resolution photos will help stimulate more business applications, such as medical images, as I wrote today.

Comments

[Benedict Evans]

Two crucial points missed - the GX30 has a QVGA screen (320x240) and removable memory (an SD card slot).

In Japan, where megapixel cameras and memory slots are now standard, most pictures taken with a camera phone are never sent over the air.

[Senshu Igarashi]

In Japan, the most popular carrier - NTT Docomo - now limits 100KB for Tx and 10KB for Rx, with their 3G phone.

For me, the benefit of megapixel camera is I can get clearer VGA size images - which I believe an appropriate size as e-mail attatchment for my business use.

As you may have experienced, a VGA image made from higher resolution original image is always better than an image from VGA CCD.
My popular usage is to take photos by my Docomo F900i at VGA resolution, transfer them to my ThinkPad via IrDA and send them out via PCMCIA-PHS adapter. No re-touch is needed.

This F900i is making me free from carrying DSC all the time during my biz trip.

Of course, CCD resolution is not the only key factor for image quality. Actually, the image quality of my first mega-pixel phone - D505i - was terrible and forced me to carry DSC.