Five megapixel Samsung camera phone in U.S. by year's end?

Saumsung will introduce its five megapixel camera phone, now available in Asia, to the United States by the end of this year, according to an artcle in USA Today about the Photo Marketing Association International's (PMAI) annual conference in Orlando.

Since we are still hoping to get two megapixel camera phones in the U.S., getting a five megapixel model seems unlikely.  That is, however, what the article says.

"In South Korea, Samsung recently introduced a 5-megapixel camera phone, suitable for much bigger blow-ups, and Samsung says that phone will be introduced here by year's end."

Sprint's first memory card phone?

USA Today also reports Sprint will offer a Sanyo camera phone for about $300 with a memory card slot, noting it's "Sprint's first consumer phone with such a feature." 

I guess the Treo 600 and Treo 650 (with a Secure Digital slot) that I have next to me aren't consumer-type phones.

PMAI developments

USA Today says camera phones are getting "more user friendly."  The article says, "Camera phone companies are getting the message loud and clear: Consumers will take more pictures if the quality is better and the printing is easier."

The article reports Samsung displayed its two megapixel a800 camera phone.  Certainly I can see the U.S. getting two megapixel camera phones, probably with Sprint PCS leading the way.

But five megapixels?  Perhaps a U.S. cellular operator wants to make a big splash in the market.  Still, how will operators deal with a five megapixel file?

Large files

The size is a big problem.  Even with the higher speed cellular networks, such as GSM EDGE and WCDMA/UMTS and CDMA 1xEV-DO, a five megapixel photo is huge. 

Image compression is an option but it would destroy the quality at the highest resolutions.

Cellular operators around the world are exploring different methods for dealing with high resolution photos, such as encouraging camera phone users to bring memory cards to photo labs or insert the cards into photo kiosks for printing images.

Alternatives

USA Today discusses Sprint's new "Print to Home" printer service that it's introducing in conjunction with Epson, as I wrote a few days ago.

Sprint comes out rather well in the article as enabling subscribers to transfer photos from the camera phone without having to use the wireless network.

Verizon, however, doesn't fare as well.  USA Today says, "Sprint's move is in contrast with industry practices. Earlier this year, California customers of Verizon Wireless filed a class-action lawsuit against the company after Verizon disabled photo download features from the Motorola V710 phone.

"Verizon was unavailable for comment Sunday."

Verizon has claimed it crippled Bluetooth because of security concerns.  Yeah, right.