Remembering the First Smartphone in the World

Image Source: tnh.gob.hn

The development of technology in the world always leaves a long story that will always be fun to remember. Like how the birth of computers, the internet, and of course also about smartphones. In this article, let us become acquainted with the first "smartphone" in the world.

Aswab N. P., Tekno Kompas - The digital age is developing so fast. Many digital technologies continue to experience updates from time to time. Technology companies are also developing the latest products, especially devices intended for the consumer market. One of the technological products that experienced rapid development was telephone.

Since Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, many companies have continued to develop the communication technology. Until finally, the era of smartphones was born, smart phones with a number of advanced features that are very useful in everyday life. Exactly 26 years ago on November 23, 1992, the first smartphone was introduced. The smartphone named IBM Simon was introduced at the COMDEX EXPO event in Las Vegas, United States. Since that era, IBM Simon has been listed as the world's first smartphone.

IBM Simon, Source: Tekno Kompas

In the event, IBM Simon was a concern for many because it was a combination of cellphones and personal digital assistants (PDA) in one device. This allows one to call and receive calls, fax, and make e-mails. Not only that, IBM Simon has features in PDAs such as calendars, address books and notepad, but also other applications such as maps, shares and news.

Reporting from Bloomberg Businessweek, this smart phone was developed by IBM and an American cellular company, BellSouth. IBM calls it "Simon" because it is simpler and can do whatever the user wants. This smart phone has a thick and long design. IBM Simon has a touch screen, which is a monochromatic touchscreen with a resolution of 160 × 293 pixels with a 4.5 inch screen-wide. In terms of storage, Simon has 1 Mb RAM supported by a 1.8 Mb memory card and nickel Cadmium battery which can only last for one hour of usage. IBM Simon can be called more like a walkie-talkie radio communication device than a cell phone. Mobile phones weighing 0.5 kilograms (500 grams) are popular among business people who want cellular phones as well as mini computers.

When viewed carefully and compared to current technology it is indeed not comparable, but in the 1990s it has become something cool. At that time, IBM Simon offered simple features such as calendar, modem fax, phone storage, calculator, notepad, e-mail and simple games.

IBM Simon, Source: Tekno Kompas

BellSouth Cellular sells around 50,000 units for six months the product is on the market. The price offered is 899 USD which at that time was considered very expensive. Because of this factor, IBM Simon disappeared from circulation for about two years since its launch. Now, the 20-year-old IBM Simon is on display at the London Science Museum exhibition. Although the term smartphone didn't exist until 1995, but because of its features and capabilities, Simon was widely considered the first smartphone.

Source: Tekno Kompas