Three MegaPixel Camera Phone Launched

South Korea's SK Teletech has introduced a new 3 megapixel cameraphone for the local market. The SKY IM-8400 comes with a 3.2 million auto-focus camera. There have been a total of seven 3 million pixel-class camera phones introduced onto the South Korean market by leading manufacturers, such as Samsung, Pantech, LG and SKY. The 3 million pixel camera phones have been sold at a rate of more than 30,000 units per month since their first introduction in July 2004, conspicuously overwhelming the market for 3 million pixel digital cameras, despite the relatively high prices.

It appears that 3 million pixel camera phones are still outdone by their 1 million pixel counterparts in terms of sales and popularity among the general public, and by 7 million pixel ones for precision. However, market watchers say that a 3 million pixel camera phone with auto-focus or zoom function compares favorably with a 3 million pixel digital camera as a camera, predicting that they will soon form the mainstream of the digital camera market.

A market expert said, "It appears that many people take pictures with camera phones to use them in the computer or their individual homepages. As for 3X5 size pictures, two or three million pixel-class cameras are good enough. Thus, cameras of this class are expected to form the mainstream of the camera phone market soon.

In addition to auto-focus, zoom, and half-shutter functions, IM-8400 enables the user to choose his/her own picture quality, and features various functions, such as five-stage white balance, seven modes of photography, the ten-step brightness level, 9-cut continuous photography, 16-cut split photography, and a self-timer.

Equipped with a 1.3-inch sub LCD and four-directional Multi-Key, the camera phone provides zoom, focus, replay, and flash functions as well as play, search, fast forward functions when listening to recorded music without opening the folder. The 3D Sound, Equalizer Mode, and 15?oud Speaker also provide lively music. It is also possible to download via MP3 or listen to music via the Melon service.

A SKY official said, "The newly introduced product is expected to be a leader in the premium market for 3 million pixel phones both in design and in functions."