Texas Instruments is banking on mini-projectors being the next big thing in wireless after the now ubiquitous cell phone camera. The chip maker is focusing on growth in features such as mobile web surfing and video. Even though the market overall for both cell phones and small cameras is shrinking, TI expects the new projector chips  (which were unveiled on this past week at the Mobile World Congress showcase in Barcelona) to be ready for customers later this year and in commercial products in 2010.

Samsung recently released a $500 cell phone using the first version of TI’s pico-projector technology. The technology beams video or photographs from a phone to any surface. Samsung plans to sell a similar device in Europe as well, but has not released pricing. As the market for small electronics shrinks, makers are rushing to find the hottest application that moves their product to the front of the ever shorter line.