Its all about marketing…One good product, Camera Phones is helping sell another good product, Digital Cameras.

The following Reuters.com article explains.

Contrary to expectations, camera phones are spurring U.S. consumers to buy digital cameras, according to a study released on Monday by research firm IDC.

Mobile phones equipped with tiny cameras are seen as less of a threat to replace digital cameras as camera prices fall, IDC said in its Mobile Imaging Survey. In fact the report said new phones help to introduce users to digital photography, which uses no film and allow pictures to be e-mailed.

Sharp growth in sales of cameraphones with powerful lenses was once seen as a threat to digital cameras, since most new mobile phones sold are equipped with tiny camera lenses that lets user spontaneously snap pictures in places they might not have in the past.

The study said that over 30 percent of camera phone owners plan to purchase digital cameras because they learned about digital photography through camera phones, IDC said.

[ Continue reading at Reuters.com ]