Vodafone
Message-Cam (MC-20B)

The Vodafone Message-Cam was a colour touchscreen device with a built-in digital camera that was designed exclusively for Vodafone by Casio. There were 5000 units manufactured as part of a deal struck by Vodafone AirTouch's global OEM director Ivan Donn with Japan's Casio Computer Co Ltd vice president Yukio Kashio. When it was launched, Vodafone hoped it would be a "much sought-after Christmas gift" and in the advertising the network used images of Christmas lunch, celebrations and holidays. Connectivity for the Message-Cam was provided via the Siemens C35i WAP phone which was connected via a data cable. Content was transmitted using circuit-switched data over the GSM network. When launched the Message-Cam bundle (which included the Siemens phone) cost £350 (equivalent to £605 in 2021). In addition to capturing pictures, the Message-Cam had "full Internet access" and several other features including a voice recorder, clock, calendar and calculator. It was a commercial failure, but a milestone device in the history of mobile phone photography.