Nokia 12-megapixel cameraphones with optical zoom in 2010?

Nokia are tipped to be developing at least one 12-megapixel cameraphone that will also include an optical zoom.  Sources within Nokia as well as at Carl Zeiss – who are expected to provide the optics for the upcoming devices, as they commonly do with Nokia's current cameraphone range – have suggested that the high-megapixel handsets will hit the market in 2010.

The move would put Nokia into competition with Samsung's Pixon 12, announced back at the beginning of June, and Sony Ericsson's Satio, the production version of the Idou concept.  Neither of those devices have an optical zoom, however.

It's speculated that the device could be the Nokia N98, and a new flagship for the company.  That would be likely to debut at Mobile World Congress in February 2010, rather than at the Nokia World expo in September 2009.

[via Register Hardware]