PC camera

China digital camera manufacturers are forecast to boost production by 20％ in the next 12 months. Prices are expected to remain flat or to fall. The global digital camera business was estimated to be a US$24-billion industry in 2004. Global digital camera shipments in 2005 grew by 20.8 percent to 72.2 million units. Latest forecasts by US-based imaging industry analyst Lyra Research, put digital camera shipments at 100 million units by 2008. The increasing popularity of video communication over the Internet is making PC camera the next indispensable PC peripheral. Manufacturers in China remain at the forefront of manufacturing PC camera, with its base of 140 makers forecast to increase production in 2006 by 33％.