NTT DOCOMO has demostrated a brick-sized mobile phone with a built-in projector at CEATEC 2008, in Japan. "the prototype is able to display a 20", 480 × 320 image with a throw distance of 80cm and a brightness of 7.5 lumens, for a total of 15-20 minutes with an existing cellphone battery" according to the article at PhoneArena.

Battery might be a concern for these devices, but the manufacturer/network claims that the micro projector uses 3W only. Texas Instruments' CEO had stated earlier this year that micro projectors will be standard in mobile phones from the second half of the present year, a date which will surely be delayed.

Any multimedia-fanatic would like to have his/her own mobile projector, but while regular house projectors are not affordable, it is doubtful that the same will apply to micro projectors, and it is likely that mobile phones with built-in projectors will only be affordable to the high-income members of the population.

[via PhoneArena]