Smartphones continue to get ‘smarter’ by the day. Let’s take a look at when the first smartphone was released and how smartphone technology evolved.
The first smartphone
The first smartphone was unveiled by IBM in 1992, although it did not go on general sale until 1994. It was the first phone to utilise a touchscreen and could even send and receive emails.
Mobile gaming
1997 saw the first mobile game in the form of Snake. This was the beginning of mobile gaming – an industry that has grown massively and was valued at a staggering $119bn (£93.8bn) in 2021.
Internet network connectivity
The year 2000 saw the first smartphone that could connect wirelessly to a 3G network. This significantly changed the landscape and made things such as video conferencing and sending emails with large attachments possible.
The first iPhone
2007 saw the release of the first iPhone. This device was the first that effectively allowed users to browse the web in the same way as they would on a desktop. It also offered significant storage capability and extended battery life.
Smartphones today
More recent developments that are still around today include Android phones/OS, mobile apps, texts/SMS and MMS, and video/streaming.
Multi network SIMs
One of the more recent developments is the multi network SIM card, which has several great advantages. If this is something you are interested in, there are a number of specialist firms that deal with multi network SIM cards. Many of these, such as www.lister-communications.co.uk/business-mobiles/multi-network-data-sim-cards, have useful online resources.
Smartphones have changed the way we interact socially and the way we do business. As technology continues to evolve, the smartphones we are familiar with today may not be the same as the ones we are using in ten years’ time.
