All praise is for Allah. To proceed:
I would appreciate if you could inform me of the verdict on taking pictures with a mobile phone since this has become widespread amongst the people.

As long as the photo does not contain anything haram in and of itself, such as revealing the `awra (parts of the body that it is obligatory to cover), trying to look at someone`s `awra, or helping in this, there is nothing wrong with it; and Allah Almighty is more exalted and more knowledgeable.