Cellphones send videos.

[AlecWest]

Samsung has done it again, this time with a cellphone that can send brief video clips:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=566226

[BJ_M]

just another gimmick to make you spend more money

though the specs are impressive..

[Nilfennasion]

I own a mobile phone that is capable of sending video to other mobile phones. At the moment, the only mobiles in the same country that can do this are the exact same make and model (Samsung SGH-E310s). If you are signing up for a new service and these phones are on offer, then fine, but don't go out of your way to get this service. It ain't worth it.

[bugster]

Sending video clips from mobile to mobile is not new. It has been available for over a year in Europe using the Multi-Media Message service (MMS). If the recipients phone is not MMS capable (for video, still images or audio) then they are sent an internet URL to pick up the message on the internet.
The main thing about that Samsung is the 7 megapixel camera. It can't do video at that resolution though, probably only the much lower resolutions supported by MMS. Should be great for still pictures when you don't have a dedicated digital camera to hand tho!

[Nilfennasion]

Well, MMS is much like digital photography. The camera I mentioned is capable of MMS and video messages, but at relatively low resolutions.

Seven megapixels for MMS, be it video or stills, will be out of everyone's reach for some time yet. Hell, even dedicated still cameras can't achieve that just yet.

[bugster]

Well, MMS is much like digital photography. The camera I mentioned is capable of MMS and video messages, but at relatively low resolutions.

Seven megapixels for MMS, be it video or stills, will be out of everyone's reach for some time yet. Hell, even dedicated still cameras can't achieve that just yet.

You can't send 7 Megapixel images via MMS. The images are far too big. You may be able to take your pictures at that resolution, but send them via MMS and they are downsized to something pathetic like 320x240 (I forget the exact size). Of course you can transfer the full 7 megapixel image to your PC via memory card, bluetooth, usb etc.

[Nilfennasion]

It's all in the pricing. In about January of 2003, I paid around $600 for a digital still camera that took photos in 2048x1536 or thereabouts. It also featured a swivelling viewfinder... very handful for self-portraits. By comparison, to own a Samsung mobile that takes and sends photos in a maximum of 640x480, and cannot be expanded for storage space, costs around the same amount outright.

As long as this disparity continues to exist, and it will since digital stills will already be up to the 7MP mark and beyond, camera phones will be nothing more than a novelty. Possibly used by real estate agents for convenience. And even then, you never send 640x480 to do 2048x1536's job.

[pchan]

These breed of phones need 3G service that support data rate 300+kpbs. It's cost $$ per MB stream... very expensive. Needs deep pocket to send and stream video.

[bugster]

It's all in the pricing.

You are right there, but different countries sell cellphone services with different business models. In the UK and some other European countries the actual handsets are heavily subsidised by the network operators when you sign up for a 12 month (or longer) contract. Many 'basic' phones can be had for free. By basic I mean basic by todays standards. They still ofetn have a simple (VGA) camera, voice, text, mms, gprs and WAP support. Higher end Cameras still cost, but much less than in areas where the operator subsidies are much smaller or non existent.

camera phones will be nothing more than a novelty.

I think it was 3 out of 5 phones sold in the UK in the last year were Camera phones. Not exactly 'novelty' levels of interest from the consumer there! Admittedly, they are not used (nor intended to be) as replacements for dedicated digital Cameras, but for Average Joe, as the capabilities (resolution) and storage space increase, it is becoming more possible for this to occur. 7Mp is more than the average 'point and shoot' holiday snap photographer needs, but 2 Mp is now quite common in phones, and this is increasing all the time. 3 or 4Mp is enough for many people, so it won't be long before you can throw that dedicated digital Camera away and just take your handset on holiday. The use of removable storage cards in phones (MMC, memory stick etc) will make this more feasible too.

Sending 7Mp images over GSM/3G. Not too frequently as it is too expensive at the moment, but that is not the only use for these products.

[ViRaL1]

It's just another way to increase usage and increase service charges and fees.

[bugster]

It's just another way to increase usage and increase service charges and fees.

Of course it is. The Network operators and handset manufacturers don't doi it all for fun you know :P