Who thought up the idea of putting cameras into cell phones? Was it a cell phone wholesaler who knew what customers wanted? Was it someone who fancied himself a sleuth? Was it a fond mom who saw that precious sight of a kid sliding down the slide and didn't have a way quickly to preserve the image in a picture? Whatever its origins, the cell phone camera has come into its own and it is becoming more and more like a regular digital camera. Some users dislike the increased complexity, while others embrace it.

Cell phone cameras will not completely replace regular "point and shoot" cameras in the near future. When you can jump online and get a camera for just dollars, you aren't inclined to spend much more on a cell phone camera with fewer features. Nonetheless, nothing can take the place of the immediacy of the cell phone camera. Every body has a cell phone available every place, so those spontaneous unforgettable shots can be captured on film. Moreover, wholesale cell phones with cameras have become so readily purchased and so cheap that they are hard to resist. The cell phone camera is evolving incredibly rapidly. Here are just a few of the features that have arrived.

Resolution. Usually, the higher the resolution, the better the picture quality. In 2009, cell phone cameras with an unbelievable 12 megapixels were introduced. The photographic quality produced by these devices is far better than the poor-quality shots that early 1 megapixel cameras could produce – at least as long as the camera operator has some minimal skill level!

Size. Consumers still want their wholesale cell phones to be slim and light. The main point, after all, is still to talk on the phone, although as these devices advance, an increasing number of features, from WiFi to GPS, are being merged into a single product. Size still matters, however, so as manufacturers add features like autofocus and flash to the cell phone camera, they have to take steps towards keeping the cell phone small.

Power. Battery life makes all the difference – every consumer wants a wholesale cell phone that works a long time without needing to be plugged in. The camera must be designed for the lowest possible power usage whether being used or in stand-by mode. For example, camera phones with flashes most often use the low power LED light to save energy.

Survival. Have pity on the poor cell phone which has to outlast being dropped, drowned,stepped on, run over and tossed! Obviously a camera has to be incredibly rugged to last in this environment. Wholesale cell phone manufacturers are meeting these challenges as well, even comingup with underwater camera phones.

The best stand-alone camera will always outperform the best cell phone camera in the hands of a professional photographer. But the cell phone camera will continue to evolve and remain wildly popular.