The quality of the cameras in mobile phones is improving very rapidly and approaching that of low to mid-end digital still camera’s. This trend was especially visible during during this year.

5 megapixel cameras are becoming mainstream in high end camera phones, we already have 3x optical zoom in Samsung G800, and next year we will see our first 8 megapixel cameraphones too.

Before today it was mainly my idle speculation, but now I can say that with certainty. Thanks to Samsung’s new 8 megapixel CMOS camera module that will find it’s way into a new cameraphones later next year.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics today has announced that they have developed a new 8 megapixel (3264×2444 px) CMOS camera module for mobile phones. It can produce clear 300 dpi picture output for highest resolution 27.64×20.73 cm prints.

8 mpx camera module can be mounted on mechanical shutter and has other advanced camera functions like autofocus, backlight correction, red eye removal, facial recognition, anti-shake technology, etc.

The size (10.5 X 11.5 X 9.4mm ) of the new camera module is similar to 3.2 mpx cameras currently used in mobile phones.

New 8 mpx cameras will go into mass production during first half of 2008.

So we’ll probably be able to get our hands on first 8 mpx camera phones next summer with the first models announced early next year. Probably during CES in January or 3GSM Congress in Barcelona, February next year.