When Did Smartphones Come Out, and Where Do They Go From Here?
Are you reading this on your smartphone? 85% of Americans use smartphones, so you have plenty of company.
Smartphones are part of our daily lives. Many of us struggle to imagine life without them. But when did smartphones come out?
For that, we need to scroll back to the 1990s.
Read on for a brief history of smartphones.
What Is a Smartphone?
We need to define what a smartphone is to answer the question, when did the first smartphone come out?
Before smartphones, we had cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Cell phones used cellular networks to make calls and send texts. But they lacked tools like planners, calculators, and calendars.
PDAs used computer functions to help executives plan their days. PDAs had calendars, appointment setters, world clocks, and calculators. But calls were out of the question, reserved for cell phones.
Engineers blended these two devices. You had all the functions of a PDA and the ability to call, text, email, and fax. But you could argue, that without web browsing, smartphones were yet to hit the scene.
When Did Smartphones Come Out?
Frank Canova, an engineer at IBM, designed the Simon Personal Communicator in 1992. It had many of the features we think of as smart.
The Simon had a touchscreen and PDA functions. It could text, email, call, and fax. It had a news feed and maps, but it lacked a web browser.
It hit the market in 1994. Mitsubishi Electric upgraded its touchscreen to LCD. But its size, poor battery life, and price held it back from stardom.
In 1999, DoCoMo – Do Communications Over the Mobile Network – launched the first 3G network in Japan. Named I-Mode, this network hit Europe in 2001. The modern age of browser-enabled smartphones gained pace.
Blackberry launched its 5810 in 2002. It had a QWERTY keyboard, basic WAP browsing, PDA, and cell functions.
Then Steve Jobs held up Apple’s first iPhone in 2007. In one gesture, Steve and the Apple team changed how we interacted forever.
Was the iPhone the first smartphone? It was the first with a sleek design, elegant touchscreen, and fast web browsing abilities. The result: 1 million sales in 74 days.
What’s Next for Smartphones?
Foldable smartphones have large-capacity batteries, yet remain pocket-sized. They can have under-screen cameras, and their clamshell cases protect them. Both horizontal and vertically folding smartphones are out now.
Cutting-edge accessories let us customize our phones, and even add new features. Check out this helpful link for the latest smartphone accessories.
Modular smartphones could hit our shelves in a big way. These let you upgrade tech like cameras, displays, and even processors by plugging them in.
Then there’s the idea of ambient smart technology. Smart tech becomes so world-integrated, that personal devices become obsolete. What would IBM’s Simon think of all that?
The Scroll to the Top
When did smartphones come out? IBM’s Simon had PDA and cell phone features, but no web browser. How would you check your social media?
The Blackberry 5810 had WAP browsing, cell features, and all the executive tools of the best PDAs. But was it a smartphone?
Today’s smartphone era started when Steve Jobs held up the first Apple iPhone at Macworld in 2007. Now smartphones are here to stay.
We hope you enjoyed our brief history of smartphones. We have plenty more tech, business, and lifestyle tips on our site. Check us out today!
