The modern smartphone is an essential tool for most people today. As a device that goes beyond just making calls and sending messages, the smartphone has become a true companion to millions of users worldwide, offering multiple features and functionalities like internet browsing, gaming capabilities, high-end cameras, video calling and augmented reality. However, have you ever wondered who invented the smartphone? Who are the individuals or companies responsible for coming up with this revolutionary technology?
In this article, we will delve into the history of smartphones – tracing their origins from rudimentary handheld devices to sophisticated mobile gadgets that have revolutionized how we communicate with each other.
Earlier Versions of “Smart” Device
Although technically not a proper ‘smartphone’ as we know it today because it did not have voice communication functionality; Simon Personal Computer made by BellSouth Corporation can be considered a prototype of smartphones. In 1993 IBM created BellSouth PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) which was marketed as Simon Personal Communicator in 1994. The device could send faxes and emails, had push-button input instead of handwriting recognition unlike most PDAs at its time but crucially had basic touch-screen controls.
Apple Newton MessagePad- Image Courtesy Apple Inc.
Another early pre-smartphone is widely recognized as being built by IBM researcher Frank Canova Jr., who then worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) where he developed what is believed to be first touchscreen phone in 1992 which was later shelved.
Not long after Canova’s experiment one firm followed his design lead. AT&T entered into an exciting partnership with NCR’s Communications Products Division in 1992 resulting in PersonaLink Services (“PLS”), a subsidiary outsourcing project aimed bringing new ideas involving wireless communications hardware/software applications tools under control by central client server architecture ultimately leading unto personal communication assistant (“PCA”) unveiled by AT&T May 18th ,1993 during Windows World conference held Atlanta Georgia unveiling PersonalLink services then led by BellSouth.
In 1993, IBM popularized the PDA with its first personal digital assistant (PDA), called the Simon. The phone had a touch screen that could be used to make calls, send faxes and emails. It also featured early mobile apps such as a calendar, calculator and notepad.
The birth of smartphones
For many inventors involved in this quest for handheld wireless communication devices; what distinguished a Smartphone from an ordinary Mobile device is internet capabilities which means beyond basic messaging functions or Voice only based communication system; the phone would have ability at least to browse web pages, run portable application software with graphics media that often require more powerful chips and faster data transmission connection speed than traditionally seen in feature phones’ limitations until transition to third-generation (3G) Internationals standard which now enabled access to some multimedia applications like video streaming although starting from Symbian OS based Nokia N95 released on September 26th ,2006 followed next year February by Apple iOS built iPhone on June 29th ,2007 being billed as new-age cellular phones offering users unending possibilities hitherto never available.
Ericsson R380- Image Courtesy Nasling.net
In terms of naming ‘smartphone’, it can be traced back into an Ericson-made smartphone known as Ericsson R380 built a Communicator line of products sold across Europe enabling full email support even though it didn’t take off outside Europe due to high price tag limited network coverage areas unlike pre-iPhone devices like BlackBerry launched before Apple gained global dominance through iPhone.
Creativity born out of innovation enabled individuals who saw constraints overcome them creatively ushering in so many revolutionary technologies driving innovation forward particularly through networking technology evolution witnessed between Wireless Access Protocol (WAP), 2G(GSM)-aimed mainly at voice-only approach long-range connectivity modality, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) -former versions of 2G, and third-generation (3G) communications systems focusing on more diverse convergence applications. Where data speed transmission increased and mobile devices evolved into what we know today.
Despite many claiming that Nokia is the “father” of smartphones, Steve Jobs and Apple’s iPhone impact cannot be overstated as they revolutionized the market with touchscreens leading next disruptor Samsung in finding new ways through software designs user experiences settling future design system for smartphone interfaces affecting different levels of acceptability look-n-feel designing reactions reaching beyond better hardware to create ecosystems not seen until now – Even Blackberry did not roll this way.
Conclusions
In conclusion, while it may be difficult to pin down who actually invented the smartphone altogether; one can clearly see how a blend of ideas from multiple individuals including bigger corporations like IBM, Ericsson, NCR Communications Products Division/AT&T team, alongside breakthroughs by folks like Canova paved the way for modern-day smartphones as we know them today.
The first pioneers brought about some very unique innovations that helped shape early handheld communication devices while current generation companies represented by luminary global brands such as Google through its Android operating system platform alongside latest releases from Huawei (Mate X) or Apple iPhones series continue to bring about notable changes constantly driving creativity forward keeping up pace with their users’ needs. Ultimately reflecting a dynamic history wherein smart money was always on people’s progress unto something even more tech-savvy.