Cameraphones spur sales of digicams

If you're so happy with your cameraphone that you've decided
not to get a separate digital camera, it turns out you're in the minority (not surprising, given the fantabulous
image quality you get from most camphones). According to a new study from research firm IDC, cameraphones are
actually encouraging consumers to pick up standalone digicams, with 30% of those surveyed saying they're going to
buy a digicam because their camphones turned them on to digital photography. IDC also found that 7.5 billion pics
will be snapped from camphones this year, compared to 40 billion from digicams. Of course, this may change if any
of the 5+
megapixel camphones ever make their way to the U.S. But, for now at least, the big boys of digital photography
have nothing to fear from the anonymous chip vendors powering most camphones.