Ericsson adds camera to GSM phones

SINGAPORE--A picture is worth a thousand words, especially when you're trying to describe something to a pal over your mobile phone. That's why Swedish phone manufacturer Ericsson has come up with the CommuniCam MCA-10, a small digital camera you can attach to your phone, take a snapshot of whatever you see, and send to your friend's e-mail account. The device is expected in stores in Singapore by the end of August or early September, according to Jack Tan, sales and marketing manager for Ericsson Consumer Products Asia Pacific. However, he was unable to provide pricing details. First showcased at CeBit 2001 in Hanover, the CommunicCam is Ericsson's first mobile camera for GSM phones. To use it, you attach the device to the end of an Ericsson mobile phone. After a picture is taken, users can send pictures to any e-mail account using the data transmission capability of the phone. Staff writer Ernest Khoo reported from Singapore.