Beware the ubiquitous cell phone, because some of those equipped with cameras are in the hands of perverts bent on invading your privacy.

Media coverage of arrests in this regard is on the increase, with the focus mainly on men who surreptitiously use a camera phone to photograph up women's skirts. Once such images are transmitted to cyberspace, the damage becomes impossible to contain.

Since J-Phone Co. in November 2000 debuted the first cell phone capable of taking and transmitting photos, the firm's products have met with huge success. Other cell phone giants, including NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and KDDI Corp., followed, rapidly expanding the mobile phone-camera market.