We’re going to switch our cell phone service. I’m thinking about getting a camera phone.
My question is, how do I get my pictures from the phone to the computer without having to pay extra for some silly “photo album” or “photo messaging” service from the provider?
Can it be done with a USB cable?
This is the sort of thing you should ask at the store, because it’s going
to depend on the phone and software in question. For example, I know
that LG has USB](http://www.cellphoneshop.net/usbdacaforlg8.html%22%3EUSB) cables that can be used to sync your contacts list and
other info, but I don’t know if their software will support downloading
pictures from the phone.
However, don’t let the store sell you a cable before you research the
price. Cell ph. accessories are almost always much cheaper on the web.
Please note also that the cameras in cell phones generally take pretty
low quality pictures. I just don’t want you to be disappointed if you were
expecting the phone to replace a digital camera.
Cell phones? Yuk. 
Er… Hope that helps… 
Hi Flyingcursor
If you get a camara phone then you will get the software to sync it with your computer and a USB cable attachment to connect it to the pc. If this is not included do not take the phone.
What fearfoin said about quality is true, the camera quality is not great, they are normally between 1.3 and 2 megapixel and don’t have things like zoom facility.
If you are thinking about going upmarket on the phone, look for things like bluetooth and 3G capability (or whatever the equivelant is in the US) and if size is not a serious consideration then a PDA phone could be a reasonable option. Whatever you do check out the models you prefer on the web before you buy it for any issues that the model may have.
David
It’s not just the low resolution that’s a problem, either; cell phone cameras are quite cheap and have poor-quality lenses with limited light and contrast sensitivity. My phone was Samsung’s top of the line when I bought it, and the picture quality is much worse than my low-to-middle end digital camera (which cost less!).
get a bluetooth-usb adapter for your pc, then you can do it without a cable. that’s how i do it.
something like this, it’ll be all you need: of course your phone must have bluetooth on-board for this to work. but most new camera-phones do anyway.
I think BlueTooth has caught on more in Europe (Ericsson, a
Sweedish company had a big hand in inventing it) than in the US.
There might be a few phones w/ BlueTooth here, but I doubt it’s
gotten to “most” yet. Best to ask the clerk if you want to go that
route.
(For those who may not know, BlueTooth is a method for small
electronic devices to wirelessly connect over short distances [less
than a couple meters]).
I don’t use the camera on my cell phone. The pics kinda stink, really. Get a small digital camera and a regular, cheaper phone.
I was thought someone might bring that up! What a great experiment.
I just email mine strait from the phone to whatever email address I need. No cables needed, no proximity limitations, and if you save the “senders address” (usually a bunch of gobledygook) you can send pics to the phone to use as screen savers and background images.
true. but that’s not free. the other options are. of course, only once you’ve got the hardware for it. 
You must learn to negotiate…
Thanks for all the fish.
I had decided to forget the camera phone but they had a special buy one get one free, $50 bucks total. A Samsung A840. Got good reviews on Cnet. So far it has lots of nice features, sounds clear, good reception in big buildings and outside. No Bluetooth. I don’t care about internet connection, text messaging etc. Just want a phone. I figured the camera is a nice toy to go along with it.
Looks like you can get a USB](http://www.yourwirelesssource.com/shop/5/model/260549/accessory/260997%22%3EUSB) cable for that one. They even have one that’ll let the computer charge](http://www.yourwirelesssource.com/shop/5/accessory/261046%22%3Echarge) the phone while you download…
I agree. The cell phone camera is a bit of a novelty, in my opinion.
The pictures are of very poor quality in general, but some models are better than others as photos of the London bombings showed.There were photos on the net taken on the Tube train that was attacked - very moving stuff.
It’s that text messaging that you gotta watch out for
Slan,
D.
Oh cool. And cheap too! Thanks.