In the last 5 years I've had 3 phones with cameras built-in and I can safely say that I have never used this facility ever! Interestingly enough though I read that Samsung have ambitions to produce a phone with a video camera that can record HD video at 1080p. In case you don't know, this is a standard of video that the bbc and sky can not, yet, broadcast. I think they are looking to the day when youtube is the #1 broadcaster of HD content. As regards the original question, I guess it's an inexpensive technology that can easily be implemented and will suffice for most people's needs (mine for certain)?