Sony Ericsson Pushing Camera Phones In U.S.

Sony Ericsson will be looking toward camera phones to help boost its share in the U.S. market.

Like the entire mobile market, the fourth-largest largest cell phone manufacturer is struggling with the slumping economy. But it's hoping that bringing to the U.S. markets handsets like the C905 Cyber-shot will help the company rebound.

The C905 is aimed at users who want to ditch their digital cameras, as the phone packs an 8-megapixel camera. The handset also will include a digital zoom, Xenon flash, face detection, auto-focus, and an image stabilizer. It also has integrated GPS, and it can upload photos and surf the Web with Wi-Fi and 3G capabilities.

While handsets like Apple's iPhone 3G and the BlackBerry Storm get a lot of attention and dollars, representatives from Sony Ericsson said there's still a sizeable base of subscribers who don't need or want a smartphone.

"There is a large consumer segment that is still very much interested in a feature phone," Jon Mulder, the company's head of North American product marketing, told Reuters.

Mulder said consumers increasingly want a high-quality camera on their phones to share photos to sites like Flickr and Facebook. Sony Ericsson did not say what U.S. carrier would pick up the C905 or when to expect it, but the company estimated the handset would cost $199 to $249 with a new two-year contract.

That price may hinder adoption though, as many highly coveted smartphones can be purchased for about $200. Additionally, with the release of the Memoir for T-Mobile, Samsung has beaten Sony Ericsson to the punch by releasing the first 8-megapixel phone in the U.S. market.

Smartphones are low-cost and low-risk ways to increase the productivity of your mobile workers. InformationWeek looked at some other ways to arm your road warriors without breaking the bank, and the report can be downloaded here (registration required).