November 23, 1992 - The world's first smartphone introduced by IBM

All smartphones now owe IBM a thanks for thinking of such a breakthrough device.

November 23, 1992 - The first smartphone introduced by IBM in the world

When it comes to the concept of "smartphones ", they relate immediately to phones equipped with touch screens along with extremely convenient features to use. However, few know that the "nest" of iPhone or Galaxy today is known to the world 23 years ago and sees it as a true phenomenon of the emerging mobile industry. at that time. That is the IBM Simon phone - the first smartphone in the world.

With the full name of the IBM Simon Personal Communication Device , the phone surprised all attendees of COMDEX on November 23, 1992. At that time, IBM had just brought a test version called Angler to attend this computer show in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the same time, many people were curious when a computer data company like IBM launched a "half-lean, half-fat " product when it was just like a regular mobile phone, similar to one. a popular PDA at the time.

The level of curiosity about Angler is so high that the USA Today at that time devoted to the cover art in the Money section of the next day's issue of the image of Frank Canova - Angler's father - holding this bizarre mobile device . The size of the "giant" compared to the later juniors, Angler has a length of up to 23cm (not including the antenna when it is pulled out) and its battery weighs 500 grams to help the phone This can work within an hour if calling continuously. Besides, Angler is also impressed with the blue LCD touch screen that uses a stylus , which also allows users to record, draw, update schedules and even a memory card. help install third-party software, which is the origin of today's applications.

After achieving certain successes in promoting the image at COMDEX, the company responsible for distribution of Angler - BellSouth Cellular - decided to give the main name of Simon's Personal Communication Device before gender. Introduce it once again to the public on the World Conference on Wireless Connection in November 1993. At that time, BellSouth Cellular and IBM planned to launch Simon in May 1994, but due to software problems, it was delayed until August 16, 1994, when the smartphone was officially offered at more than 15 states of the United States.

With an initial price of US $ 899, along with two years of BellSouth Cellular or $ 1099 network service contracts without participating in the program, more than 50,000 IBM Simon units were sold in the first 6 months with customers. These are mostly entrepreneurs, but that's all the smartphone does, though BellSouth Cellular has adjusted its price to $ 599 with its two-year use of the network. The IBM Simon configuration was then rated "terrible" compared to the common ground: 16MHz processor, 1MB RAM and 1MB of hard drive storage. In addition, Simon operates on a DOS operating system variant, called ROM-DOS.

By February 1995, BellSouth Cellular and IBM announced that they would discontinue supply as well as IBM Simon production. The first smartphone despite being in the market for less than a year has opened up a new future for the mobile industry. All smartphones now owe IBM a thanks for thinking of such a breakthrough device.