Study says camera phones are underused

Though camera phones now dominate the cell phone market, I've always wagered that most people don't know how to take full advantage of their functionality. So I wasn't surprised when the NPD Group published a study this week that said most camera phone users don't do much with their shots besides take them.

According to the study of 8,000 adults, 20 percent report sending pictures wirelessly, while more than 80 percent leave their shots on the phone. Moreover, 6 out of 10 users aren't sure what their carrier charges to send a picture message. On the other hand, 73 percent of participants say they are satisfied with owning a camera phone. Since the inception of camera phones a few years ago, carriers have pushed them aggressively because of the added revenue that sharing pictures can create. But I think it's clear that carriers don't do a good job educating users on all the features a camera phone can have or what those features cost. And I'm sure most people stave off the high fees by avoiding sending pictures altogether.