What was the First Smartphone?

If you ask the average person on the street which was the first smartphone, you’re likely to get “iPhone” as the answer. And by many measures they might be right. The iPhone really was the first smartphone marketed primarily to the consumer. And it revolutionised the mobile market when it was released in 2007.
But smartphones have been around for over 20 years. Surprised? I was too at first. But before I get too far, let’s take a look at what defines a smartphone. Generally we define smartphones as having both a keyboard, calendar, and email at a minimum. Mostly they also incorporate a camera, a means of playing music and can run many of the applications that used to reside solely on laptops and PCs.
I remember sitting in meetings in the early 2000’s where the senior management would be silently texting away and checking email on their Blackberrys or mobile phones. The company I worked for at the time issued the devices to employees they thought needed them – usually project leaders that travelled frequently. And in the early days of the smartphone that was generally the case. Businesses adopted the smartphone long before the general consumer market.
So getting back to the question…what was the first smartphone? Who made it? And when?
Way back in 1992, IBM debuted the Simon. Amazingly it had a touchscreen, but required a stylus to use. You could check email, take notes, and use the calendar. As a bonus you could even send and receive fax messages. Yes, it had a fax capability. That’s something we don’t even consider for smartphones today (unless you’re using an online fax service via email). Though the Simon fits the definition of a smartphone, the device never caught on. So was it the first? That’s debatable as although it did exist it never really entered service. Maybe we should think of it more as a prototype.
It wasn’t until 1997 when Ericsson promoted their GS88 as a “smart phone” that the term “smartphone” took off. Purists will argue Nokia actually released the first modern smartphone a year earlier. According to TheNextWeb.com,the Nokia 9000 Communicator is “what many consider to be the quintessential smartphone”. But thanks to Ericsson’s marketing, smartphone is now the catchall term for phones with added capability.
And based on sales in 2013, Gartner reports that smartphone sales accounted for 53.6% of global mobile phone sales. It was the first year consumers bought more smartphones than basic phones. And surely that trend has accelerated in the meantime.
Android based phones accounted for about 78% of the sales worldwide, trouncing Apple’s iOS at just 15.6%.
I doubt there are too many people faxing from their phones these days. But smartphones do just about everything else. And that range will only increase as voice commands become ever more powerful, eliminating keypad use. Besides calling or texting, what’s your favorite smartphone activity? What new features do you think will emerge? Share your thoughts in a comment.
Related Articles
SMS Messaging Still Seen As A Differentiator In Retail – For Now
How many retailers use SMS messaging? According to a recent survey, not that many. And that isn’t the only surprising result shared in the survey conducted by Internet Retailer. Companies large and small know how useful SMS can be. Read on to see why now is the perfect time to start.
24 Key Research Statistics that Prove You Should be Using SMS Marketing
If you find yourself needing to justify putting budget towards SMS marketing or convincing your manager that it's the right decision for you, here are some key research statistics to keep in mind for why you should pursue an SMS campaign...
Proof SMS Messaging Gets Results: Increase Sales
Can SMS marketing increase sales numbers? In the next entry of our Results Series you’ll see the kinds of results that real companies achieved. We’ve rounded up sales numbers and timelines to show you how well, and how fast, SMS marketing can improve your sales.
Why Your Startup Needs to be Using SMS Marketing
Are startups afraid of using SMS marketing? Is it because they’re afraid of annoying customers and breaking the regulations? I don’t think so. If your startup isn’t using SMS marketing already, it’s probably because you don’t know all the facts. Find out why SMS is actually perfect for startups.
Why Using SMS for Customer Service is a Good Thing
Customer service is arguably one of the most important parts of any organisation. Happy, loyal customers spend more and ultimately bring you more business through positive comments and referrals. Here's why SMS is crucial to maintaining high levels of support now and for the future.
12 Reasons Mobile Messaging is “A Beautiful Thing”
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But could text messaging really be considered beautiful? You might argue that it depends on the messages you get! That’s a valid approach, but I recently found a description of mobile messaging that made me believe it is indeed beautiful, so I thought I’d share it with you.
Do You Ever Unplug From Your Mobile?
While it’s undeniable technology is a growing part of our everyday lives, it may be surprising how few of us ever turn it off. Or leave it behind. Most people rarely 'unplug' from their mobile devices. This provides unparallelled opportunities for marketing, especially via SMS text messaging.
UK digital advertising spending tops 7.4 billion euros
7 Statistics That Show Why You Should be Using SMS Marketing Right Now
You might have heard about SMS marketing and thought it wasn't for you. Maybe you're unconvinced by this method of reaching customers and are just not sure it could help your business thrive. But any business, big or small, can benefit from an online SMS service and the facts are plain to see.
Recruitment Industry Grows With Technology – And SMS Messaging
Recruiters today don’t need to wait for people to find and apply for jobs on the internet. They can simply send a text message out to their database with a new opening and watch the applications stream in. They can save time too, by sending updates to prospects via text message letting them know when their applications are received or processed.