Samsung has reportedly began to develop the 20-mega pixel smartphone camera module that will power its 2015 smartphones. The Advanced Development Team of the Wireless Business Division of Samsung Electronics began to develop the 20-megapixel camera module targeted for release in the second half of next year, ETNews reported today citing unnamed industry source.

Samsung plans to equip the 25% of its 2014 smartphones with 16-mega pixel cameras. Rumors have been swirling that the Galaxy S5 will come with a 16-megapixel camera. This would require a great amount of camera modules, considering the high demand for the company's smartphones. Samsung resolved the procurement issue by recently entering into an agreement with Sony for the exclusive supply of high-pixel CMOS image sensors.

By ensuring efficient CMOS quantities for 16-mega pixel products, Samsung can now afford to participate in a pixel race. It's System LSI Business Division capitalized on the ISOCELL technology for converting the CMOS image sensor pixel structure from a plane to a 3D structure to successfully produce the 8-mega pixel CIS, and is known to have introduced the 13-mega and 16-mega pixel product samples.

Samsung's rival LG Electronics as well as Nokia have chosen to invest in functions like the optical image stabilization (OIS) for their flagship smartphones.

However, due to the limited numbrer of OIS AF actuator suppliers in Korea, Samsung has decided to focus on delivering mobile devices with cameras packing more pixels, aiming make the 20-mega pixel products a general trend for 2015.