On May 28 I wrote that Qualcomm's chipset roadmap calls for four megapixel camera phone chipsets. Yesterday I learned Qualcomm's roadmap (see below) now calls for a chipset capable of six megapixels.
During a day-long briefing for analysts yesterday, the day before Qualcomm's BREW developer conference, Qualcomm executives said handset vendors wanted higher resolutions sooner than Qualcomm had expected. The six megapixel chipsets are slated to be available in sample quantities in 2005, with commercial products debuting in 2006.
This isn't written in stone, of course. Although the chipsets are scheduled to be available and handset vendors have expressed interest in the products, the cellular operators will have to determine whether such high resolution camera phones make economic sense.
The 7500/7600 chipsets are in Qualcomm's "convergence platform" for CDMA 1xEV-DO (Revision A) and UMTS/EDGE. In addition to incorporating six megapixel capabilities, the chipset includes a dual CPU: One for optimizing voice calls and one for handling applications.
Powerful multimedia features
The roadmap calls for samples in the first quarter of 2005, and typically is takes 12 to 18 months from the time samples are available until commercial products are introduced. But this doesn't seem like hype to me because during the Camera Phone Summit in Maui in May, I learned that Samsung wants five megapixel camera phones as soon as possible, and 2005 is the target year.
The two CPUs not only offer better performance but also enable simultaneous multitasking of voice calls and data transmissions. This isn't available now. If you're in the middle of transferring data and a voice call comes in, it's typically forwarded to your voice mail.
The 7500/7600 features video of 30 frames per second, 3D graphics acceleration of 4 million triangles per second and digital stereo recording and playback.
Uploading large files
There is still a serious problem of how to upload the large files produced by higher resolution camera phones. There is no easy answer or quick fix.
It's tough enough to deal with one megapixel camera phone files (and I would be shocked if any cellular operator in the United States allowed full-quality one megapixel photos to be uploaded over the wireless network), let alone transmitting a six megapixel photo!
Qualcomm is offering some help. Its Revision A upgrade for 1xEV-DO provides for 1.8Mbps upload speeds and 3.1Mbps downloads. Any cellular operator that wants to upgrade wouldn't offer these faster speeds earlier than some time in 2005.
Infrastructure/handset cycle reversed
The handset-infrastructure upgrade cycle is sort of reversing with camera phones. Typically for improvements to wireless networks, the infrastructure equipment has been available but cellular operators have waited for handsets to arrive.
Now it seems that handsets with rich multimedia capabilities will be available before the infrastructure is capable of taking advantage of all the higher end features, such as uploading large photo and video files.
Certainly you will be able to upload files, but at a much lower resolution than the handset can produce.
Searching for file transfer solutions
Cellular operator can encourage storage of files on memory cards or use of cables, Bluetooth or infrared for transferring files to computers and for obtaining prints of photos. But operators make money by charging for wireless file transfers.
Operators are striking deals with companies that offer photo printing, such as Kodak and Fuji. But the industry has a long, long way to go before the problem of uploading large files is resolved.
Also, to reiterate what I've written many times before: It takes more than large numbers of pixels to produce a great photo. You need a good lens, sensor, internal imaging software, etc., and features such as an optical zoom and a flash are major advantages, too.
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