Overview
Smartphones are the evolution of mobile cellular phones being improved by handheld computer technologies. The history of the smartphone is a fascinating journey from bulky, expensive devices to the powerful pocket computers we use today.
The History of Smartphones
1973: Motorola engineer Dr. Martin Copper and his team created a working mobile phone prototype
1983: A decade later, the first mobile phone, dubbed Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, was approved by the Federal Communication Commission. Nicknamed “The Brick,” the handheld cell phone weighed nearly 2 pounds, had a 30-minute battery life, and was priced at $3,995.
1991: 2G and lithium-ion batteries. In Finland, 2G launched on the Global System for Mobile Communications.
That same year, Sony and its engineer Asahi Kasei commercialize a lightweight and rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This was a revolutionary moment in the history of smartphones, as this type of battery is still used today.
1992: The term "smartphone" was first used to describe a prototype by IBM engineer Frank Canova.
1994: The first commercially available smartphone, the IBM Simon Personal Communicator, was sold by BellSouth. It included a touchscreen, and features like a calendar, address book, calculator, and email—the forerunners of modern apps.
1997: The term smartphone was coined and mobile gaming was introduced. After three years on the market, the term "smartphone" entered the vernacular. It was first used by Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson to describe its new mobile device called GS88.