Photos Go Mobile

I have been working on a new super-secret project with the IZEA team for the past couple of months. While the new service has many aspects, one of the bets we are making is huge growth in mobile photo sharing via smart phones. I love the quality of my digital SLR, but I rarely have it with me when I want to capture a special moment. When I do have my SLR it may take me a few days to download photos to my computer, then upload them back to a photo sharing service like Flickr.

Taking pictures with my iPhone is exactly the opposite. I always have it with me and it is extremely easy for me to share my photos instantly via the iPhone’s Internet connection. Sure, the quality isn’t as good but the immediacy and social aspects make up for it. I am not alone in my usage habits. The iPhone 3G is the most popular camera on all of Flickr.

In 2010 the total number of images captured on camera phones will reach 228 billion, exceeding the number of photos taken on digital still cameras and film cameras combined. Mobile photos are going to be big business. Some would say they already are. As time goes on the quality of the cameras embedded in mobile devices will only get better. Eventually people will simply ditch their stand-alone cameras in favor of their smart phone.

If you are working on the next big startup you may want to consider how you can take advantage of this tremendous area of growth. I am.