Verizon Wireless entered the camera phone race with a new picture-messaging service and advanced phone from LG Mobile Phones.
The move was expected, as RCR Wireless News reported on the forthcoming phone last week.
Verizon introduced the new LG VX6000 with an integrated digital camera, which is now available for $150 with a two-year service agreement. Verizon also introduced its new picture-messaging service, which allows users to send pictures to other picture-capable phones as well as e-mail addresses. The service includes a Web-based photo service, dubbed Pix Place, which allows users to compose, share, manage and save virtual photo albums.
Using the new LG phone, users can send and receive picture messages and can also include four minutes of audio with the message or a sound effect. The high-end camera phone includes zoom features and resolution settings. The move follows the introduction of a similar phone from Sprint PCS.
Under Verizon’s picture messaging service, users can send pictures to e-mail addresses or other Verizon Wireless phones. If the phones cannot view a picture, users are directed to a Web page via a text message. The service costs 25 cents, or users can purchase bundled picture messaging Pix Paks of 20 messages for $3 or 40 messages for $5.
Verizon, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, has brought up the rear of the picture messaging craze in the United States. Sprint PCS was the first out of the gate last year with an integrated digital camera. The rest of the nation’s carriers followed suit. Now only Nextel Communications Inc. remains without a camera phone.
The camera phone market looks to be a major opportunity for carriers. According to new research from the Zelos Group, U.S. carriers will see about $10.3 million in revenues from picture messaging this year, a number that will grow to $401 million by 2008. The firm said that by 2008 about one-third of all U.S. wireless users will own camera phones.
