The world’s first smartphone is now two decades old

17 August, 2014
The IBM Simon Personal Communicator went on sale in the United States on August 16, 1994.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • q8Q
  • 20 Aug 2014

s, 19 Aug 2014wow....I know itYou do realize we know you replied to yourself right?

    • s
    • s
    • 9EB
    • 19 Aug 2014

    Saurav, 18 Aug 2014It's true. IBM inventiond smartphon idea but didn't launche... morewow....I know it

      • g
      • glxy
      • t7t
      • 19 Aug 2014

      Dear GSMArena. A historic phone like this deserves a place in the GSMArena device database, don't you think? This should show exactly how far we've gone from the very first smartphone. Please add the IBM Simon as it should be like a "hall-of-famer" in some ways. :)

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • q8Q
        • 19 Aug 2014

        Anonymous, 19 Aug 2014Heck. They have changed in the last 6 years vastly. In 20..... moreThat difference in data. That's inflation.
        That's also when Symbian ruled everything.
        5 and 8mp phones were extreme.
        Quad core? Lol. More 200-400mhz single core.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • q8Q
          • 19 Aug 2014

          USER, 18 Aug 2014wow!! things have changed so much in 20 years!!Heck. They have changed in the last 6 years vastly. In 20....it's a whole new world.

          6 years ago most people didn't have smart phones and most people thought the I thing was the only one or the first one.
          You have unlimited texting and data for like $30 on AT&T even for a smart phone.

            • n
            • newguy
            • LE{
            • 18 Aug 2014

            AnonD-43136, 17 Aug 2014You could at least report this when the news is fresh. This... morethanks GSMArena for the info, not all of us watch BBC!!

              ”a whopping $899 – that’s over $1400 in today’s money” - in my country, the base iPhone sells for $1200, so not that much! Also, look, it had a tocuhscreen, 13 years before... (hint: Apple)!

                • U
                • USER
                • LE{
                • 18 Aug 2014

                wow!! things have changed so much in 20 years!!

                  • D
                  • AnonD-283192
                  • TSL
                  • 18 Aug 2014

                  nice to celebrate as a special anniversary...

                    • j
                    • jacktackle
                    • pVQ
                    • 18 Aug 2014

                    Saurav, 18 Aug 2014It's true. IBM inventiond smartphon idea but didn't launche... moreare you of this world? or have i spotted you in flinstones? i guess apple don't even come 10th to aquire a first smartphone. ppl just come out from the egg shell and do not want to know about the history.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • 3Ya
                      • 18 Aug 2014

                      Saurav, 18 Aug 2014It's true. IBM inventiond smartphon idea but didn't launche... more20 years ago IBM invented the smartphone, and Apple waited 20 years to copy it?! be reasonable, there are many smartphones before iPhone, from Windows Mobile to Symbian phones, Palm Treo phones and many others.

                        Apple, get real. They may have copied and simplified the idea and got us using apps but no way should they be credited for smartphone innovation. Nokia may not have dominated the smartphone market but its them you have to thank for making it reality.
                        Do your history!

                          • S
                          • Saurav
                          • 9EB
                          • 18 Aug 2014

                          It's true. IBM inventiond smartphon idea but didn't launched it. Apple copied the IBM's idea and launched it with own name

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • bJg
                            • 18 Aug 2014

                            In today's mobile technology a mobile which was launched one month before look like a decade old mobile.rapid speed of inovation.

                              • C
                              • Codeplayer
                              • nUv
                              • 18 Aug 2014

                              If its so iconic and first, etc, then Why isn't the phone reperesented in GSMarena?

                                • f
                                • faizu
                                • uvq
                                • 18 Aug 2014

                                waiting for IBM smartphones. it should be trustworthy and quality like apple and htc.

                                  • A
                                  • Admin
                                  • MkX
                                  • 18 Aug 2014

                                  AnonD-43136, 17 Aug 2014You could at least report this when the news is fresh. This... morethen why are still commenting here ifyou already knew the all about it. We dont have an obligation to you we just post the details we're given.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • M3Y
                                    • 18 Aug 2014

                                    M-i20, 18 Aug 2014rounded corners, Round control buttons, screen, Speaker, Ae... moreits funny how you all the haters mention apple. i think secretly you must like apple as you felt the need to try and slag it off. if you dont like apple then dont comment on it. simple

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-265761
                                      • 4Df
                                      • 18 Aug 2014

                                      Back in the day ... again !!
                                      Crap-o ! Somebody is getting old here !
                                      Oh well, ain't life grand !!

                                        • M
                                        • M-i20
                                        • Np9
                                        • 18 Aug 2014

                                        rounded corners, Round control buttons, screen, Speaker, Aerial, Stylus and lots of other cool stuff. IT MUST BE AN APPLE INVENTION. Shame 20 years ago people were already copying crapple...