So you're wondering when the first smartphone was developed? That simple question has a surprisingly juicy answer. Most tech blogs will just throw a date at you – 1992 – and move on. But if you're like me, you want the whole messy, fascinating story. How did it actually work? Why does it matter? And why do some people argue about what counts as the "first" smartphone?
Let me tell you straight up: the first true smartphone was the IBM Simon, developed in 1992 and unveiled that November. It hit the market in 1994. But that's like saying the Wright Brothers flew a plane – technically true, but it doesn't capture how insanely different it was from what we have today.
I remember seeing a Simon years later in a tech museum. Honestly? It looked like someone glued a brick to a calculator. But when you realize this clunky device started everything...
Meet IBM Simon: The Great-Granddaddy of Your iPhone
Picture this: 1992. Bill Clinton is running for president, "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men is topping charts, and IBM engineers are tinkering with a prototype called "Angler." This thing wasn't just a phone. It was a fax machine, a pager, a calendar, and even had a touchscreen. Wild, right?
IBM partnered with BellSouth (now part of AT&T) to bring it to life. When people ask when was the first smartphone developed, Simon is the answer. Here's why it was revolutionary:
- Touchscreen Interface: Monochrome LCD, operated with a stylus (or your fingernail!). Forget buttons.
- PDA Functions: Address book, calendar, notepad – things previously only on devices like the Apple Newton.
- Communication Hub: Made calls, sent faxes and emails (though email required special setup).
- "Apps": Came with built-in software like a calculator and a sketchpad.
- Form Factor: A single, handheld slab design – radical back then.
Let's be real though: using one was probably a pain. The battery lasted maybe an hour. It weighed over a pound (500g)! And the price? $899 without a contract – that's about $1,800 today. Ouch. Hardly a consumer device.
IBM Simon Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification | Context (1994) |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | August 16, 1994 | First available commercially |
| Development Completion | 1992 | When the first smartphone was developed as a functional prototype |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (510 grams) | Heavier than 3 modern iPhones combined |
| Battery Life | ~1 hour (talk), ~8 hours (standby) | Required frequent charging |
| Processor | 16-bit Vadem CPU | Extremely modest processing power |
| Screen | 4.5" x 1.4" Monochrome LCD Touchscreen | No color, resistive touch |
| Storage | 1MB RAM (No internal storage for files) | Couldn't even store a modern photo |
| Connectivity | Cellular (Analog), PCMCIA card for fax/data | Dial-up speeds (max 0.019 Mbps) |
| Price | $899 (approx. $1,800 today) | Extremely niche, business-focused |
Why Was Simon Considered Smart? Defining a Revolution
We toss around "smartphone" casually now. But back in '92, what made Simon smart? It wasn't artificial intelligence. It was integration.
Before Simon, you had:
- Mobile Phones: Like the Motorola DynaTAC (the "brick phone"). Could only make calls.
- PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants): Like the Apple Newton (released 1993). Could manage calendars/contacts but couldn't make calls.
Simon smashed these two worlds together. It was the first true convergence device – a phone plus a handheld computer. Frank Canova, the lead IBM engineer, has called it a "personal communicator," which feels spot on. Its intelligence lay in letting you handle multiple communication and organization tasks in one gadget. That was the groundbreaking concept when the first smartphone was developed.
Still, using it must have felt futuristic and frustrating in equal measure. Imagine trying to tap out a fax on that tiny monochrome screen!
The Evolution: What Came After Simon?
Simon was a commercial flop – only around 50,000 units sold. It was too ahead of its time technologically and price-wise. But it lit a fuse.
Key Milestones Post-Simon
| Year | Device | Key Innovation | Connection to Simon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Nokia 9000 Communicator | Clamshell design, full QWERTY keyboard | Took the PDA/phone combo mainstream(ish) |
| 1999 | BlackBerry 850 | Push email, thumbwheel navigation | Focused primarily on mobile email |
| 2000 | Ericsson R380 | First device officially marketed as a "Smartphone" | Ran Symbian OS, flip cover with keypad |
| 2002 | Handspring Treo 180 | Popularized integrated keyboard + touchscreen | Palm OS brought better apps |
| 2007 | Apple iPhone | Multi-touch interface, iOS, App Store | Redefined expectations post-Simon |
You see the progression? Simon planted the seed – the idea that a phone could be a multi-function computer. The Nokia Communicator added better usability. BlackBerry nailed email. The Treo blended keyboards and touchscreens. Then the iPhone changed everything with effortless multi-touch and real web browsing. But that evolutionary path started with Simon's development.
I had a Treo in the early 2000s. Felt like holding the future! Until it crashed constantly. Progress isn't always smooth.
The Debate: Was Simon REALLY the First Smartphone?
Okay, let's address the nerdy arguments. Some folks insist other devices deserve the "first smartphone" crown. Here's the breakdown:
- IBM Simon (1992/1994): Generally accepted as the first. Integrated computing functions (PDA) with cellular calling in a single, handheld, touchscreen device. When the first smartphone was developed is tied to Simon's prototype completion date.
- Hagenuk MT-2000 (1994): Released the same year as Simon. Had a monochrome graphical screen and icons. Could install software via smart cards. But: Lacked PDA functions like a calendar/notepad. More of a "feature phone plus."
- AT&T EO Personal Communicator (1993): Based on the PenPoint OS. Had touch, pen input, cellular modem. But: It was tablet-sized (too big for a pocket), expensive, and required a separate handset for calls in early versions. Not truly integrated.
- General Magic PDAs (Early 90s prototypes): Visionary concepts with cloud services and messaging. But: Never integrated cellular calling into the device itself during that initial phase.
Why does Simon win? Integration. It wasn't just a phone with extra features, or a PDA with a modem add-on. It was designed from the ground up as a single device to fundamentally change how you communicated and managed information on the go. That holistic vision, realized in 1992, is why we pinpoint that year as when the first smartphone was developed.
Simon's Legacy: Ripples From a Brick
It's easy to laugh at Simon now. But its DNA is in every phone today.
- The Touchscreen Obsession: Simon pioneered the touch-centric interface. Without it, would we have swipes and taps?
- Apps Before App Stores: Simon came with software built-in. The idea of apps started here.
- Constant Connection: Simon hinted at being always reachable, always able to send/receive info. Sound familiar?
- Device Convergence: Simon proved voice calls, messaging, and computing could live in one pocketable device. This is the bedrock of modern tech.
Think about the development of the first smartphone. It wasn't just about tech specs. It was about a fundamental shift: your phone becoming your command center. Simon started that shift, however clumsily.
Solving Your Smartphone History Mysteries: FAQ
Q: When was the first smartphone developed and by whom?
A: The IBM Simon was developed in 1992 by a team at IBM, in partnership with BellSouth Cellular. It was unveiled as a working prototype in November 1992 at the COMDEX trade show. This is the definitive origin point for when the first smartphone was developed.
Q: Why isn't the iPhone considered the first smartphone?
A: The iPhone (2007) was revolutionary, but it arrived over 15 years *after* Simon. It refined the smartphone concept with multi-touch, a robust OS, and the App Store model, making smartphones mainstream. Simon was the pioneer; the iPhone was the perfecter. Understanding when the first smartphone was developed means looking decades earlier.
Q: Did the first smartphone have internet access?
A: Sort of, but not like today. Simon could send and receive emails and faxes using a slow dial-up connection via its cellular modem (think painfully slow speeds). It couldn't browse the World Wide Web as we know it – web browsers like Mosaic were just emerging!
Q: How much did the first smartphone cost?
A: The IBM Simon had a retail price of $899 when released in 1994. Adjusting for inflation, that's roughly $1,800 today. It also required a two-year service contract with BellSouth costing about $85 per month (around $170/month today). Definitely not an impulse buy!
Q: What operating system did the first smartphone use?
A: IBM Simon used a custom, proprietary operating system specifically designed for the device. It was based on the Datalight ROM-DOS kernel, a variant of MS-DOS, but heavily modified for the touch interface and mobile functions. There was no app store to download new software – everything was pre-loaded.
Q: Could you install apps on the first smartphone?
A: Not in the way we do now. Simon came with its core applications pre-installed (address book, calendar, notepad, calculator, sketchpad, etc.). There was no mechanism for users to download or install additional third-party applications.
Q: Why did the IBM Simon fail commercially?
A> Several reasons: It was incredibly expensive ($899 + $85/month contract). Battery life was abysmal (about 1 hour of talk time). It was bulky and heavy (~1.1 lbs). The technology (analog cellular, slow data) wasn't ready to fully support its vision. The market (mostly business users) wasn't large enough yet to justify the cost and complexity. Understanding the context of when the first smartphone was developed shows it was ahead of its infrastructure and market.
Q: Can I buy an original IBM Simon today?
A> Yes, but it's a collector's item! Working models in good condition are rare and can fetch anywhere from $2,000 to over $10,000 on auction sites like eBay. Non-working models or parts sell for less. You'll also need an old analog cellular network to activate it, which largely no longer exists.
The Takeaway: More Than Just a Date
Asking when was the first smartphone developed (1992!) opens a door to a pivotal moment in tech history. The IBM Simon wasn't just a gadget. It was a bold, flawed, ambitious prophecy. It dared to imagine a world where your phone wasn't just for talking, but for doing. It predicted our constant connection, our reliance on apps, our touchscreen obsession.
Was it perfect? Heck no. It was expensive, heavy, slow, and had terrible battery life. You wouldn't trade your current phone for one in a million years. But Simon mattered because it pointed the way. Every time you check your email, use Google Maps, or download an app on your sleek modern device, you're experiencing the legacy of that chunky 1992 prototype.
The development of the first smartphone wasn't about creating the perfect device. It was about proving the impossible was possible. And honestly? That's way cooler than just a date.