Samsung Unveils 10 Megapixel Camera Phone at CeBIT

Samsung Electronics says it has developed the world’s first 10 megapixel camera phone, which provides almost the same picture quality as professional cameras. Lee Ki-tae, the head of Samsung Electronics' telecom business, unveiled the camera phone at the CeBIT 2006, the world’s largest trade show for information and telecommunications technology which started in Hanover, Germany on Thursday.

A picture taken with a 10 megapixel resolution remains sharp even when blown up to calendar size. At last year’s CeBIT, the company displayed an 8 megapixel camera phone. “Increasing our market share in Europe will be decisive in determining the survival of our mobile phone business,” Lee said and vowed to increase the company’s market share there from 12.7 percent to 14-15 percent this year. Nokia, the world’s No. 1, has a firm grip on 30 percent of the European market.

Lee also said the global WCDMA mobile phone market will grow from 40 million units last year to more than 80 million this year, and Samsung Electronics aims to sell more than 10 million of the third-generation phones alone. Lee reiterated the company’s commitment to expensive high-price gadgets. “What would be the point of increasing our market share if we sell products costing US$30 or $40 a unit?” he asked.

The executive said mobile TV phones and HSDPA phones were leading the trend at the CeBIT this year. HSDPA is a “3.5 generation” mobile technology enabling users to access the Internet at speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps. Commercial mobile TV services will be available in many parts of Europe ahead of the football World Cup in Germany in June.

(englishnews@chosun.com )