"It's tempting students to cut corners," Mateer said.

He said he bases his opinion on occurrences of cheating using text messaging in his classes. Instances of cheating using cell phones have caused Mateer to instruct students to turn their cell phones off before tests begin.

"Two years ago, I had an open policy," he said. "I've been burned a couple of times."

Andrew Rice, Penn State graduate and salesman at Immix Wireless, 134 W. College Ave., said the camera phone has the capabilities of a regular camera, and is equipped with a zoom feature.

Educators fear students may photograph other tests with their cell phones and have the ability to see another student's answers.

Laura Owen (junior-nutrition) said she thinks the new technology entices students to cheat.

"I think students would be more tempted to cheat because they have that form of communication," she said. "Just about everyone has a cell phone. How do you monitor if they are using it or not?"

Other students had different opinions. Michelle Knittel (freshman-finance) said she doesn't think many students cheat with camera phones.

"I've never once used my camera phone to do anything indecent," she said. "And I don't know anyone who has."

Rice said camera phones are included on most new cell phone models and are popular. He said some students are more likely to purchase a low-quality phone with a camera than a high quality phone without one.

"Everyone wants a camera phone. There is a high demand for them right now," he said.

A report by IDC, a company that analyzes technology trends, predicts that by the end of 2004, 42 percent of cell phone users will carry a camera phone, compared to the 31 percent that carried them in 2003.

Mateer said the introduction of new technology is a good thing. Although some students use technology for indecent reasons, overall it helps students, he said.

"Technology is so good," Mateer said. "It helps students across the board. But any good thing can be corrupted by someone who takes it over the edge."