With the right to privacy a growing concern, it is not too surprising that many companies are now banning cameras and camera phones in the workplace. Additionally, many gyms are also banning them to prevent locker room photo ops from making their way to the Internet.

There is now a federal law against video voyeurism, making it unlawful to photograph parts of a person’s body or undergarments while on federal lands without the person’s consent. This law was designed to serve as a model for the states, with many states now enacting similar laws.

Charges range from misdemeanor to felony, depending on the state and the age of the person photographed. Clearly, the paparazzi have some clout in California, since the paparazzo who caught Britney’s infamous exit from the backseat of Paris’ car would only have gotten a slap on the wrist for misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Back to your question … it is possible to get a full featured phone without a camera. Currently there are limited options, but that should change as market demand increases. Non-camera phones are available from very basic phones up to “smartphones.”

For the technology-challenged, take a look at The Jitterbug (jitterbug.com). This phone is available in two versions, one that allows normal dialing, and one with three programmed buttons which include: the Jitterbug 24-hour operator, a personalized button to call whomever you wish, and a button programmed to call 9-1-1.

The Jitterbug phones feature large display screens, loud speakers, and ease of operation. They are a great option for a child or someone who is older and just wants a phone in case of emergency, like someone who has fallen and can’t get up. Let’s hope their cell phone fell also!

For more full-featured phones, take a look at the Motorola w315 flip phone, available from alltell.com and other cell service providers. This phone offers features like speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, text messaging, alarm clock, calendar, calculator, and a decent bat-tery life. A similar option from verizonwireless.com is the LG VX3300, which offers similar features and has interchangeable color face plates.

For top-of-the-line phones, check out the Palm Treo 680 NC or the BlackBerry 8800, both available from wireless.att.com. These phones have features too numerous to name, and both allow you to sync your calendar, contacts, and email with Outlook. The BlackBerry also includes built-in GPS navigation and a remarkably long battery life, allowing up to five hours of talk time and up to 530 hours of stand-by … sounds like a winner!

To help you find the cell phone that is perfect for you, take the “choosing a cell phone” quiz available at about.com, and in moments you will have a list of the top five phones meeting your criteria. Before making your purchase, be sure to check with your service provider to ensure that your phone choice is supported on their network. Otherwise, you’ll find that the signal strength indicator bars on your cell phone have fallen and can’t get up.