First iPhone
When Steve Jobs took to the stage at Macworld in 2007 he stated that every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. Some in the industry thought it was a bold claim, that the device would be a novelty that would dwindle in sales. The opposite occurred. The first iPhone introduced a touchscreen technology we had never seen before. Gone were the buttons that every other phone in the marketplace used at the time. Instead, a giant touchscreen display enabled you to use the phone with your fingers. Today, we take that technology for granted. In 2007, people were awe struck at the technology they were watching. The tech experts knew this device was going to be a seismic shift in how we used our phones.
“The mobile phone that changed the entire world we now live in.”
The first iPhone sold in its millions and had such a profound impact on the industry that every other manufacturer scrambled to launch their own touchscreen version. As Apple owned the patent on the technology, their competitors had to pay them to use it. So, even if you bought another manufacturer, the money was still going to Apple. Consequently, the first iPhone started putting its competitors out of business. A trend that only escalated as newer models came out. At the time Blackberry was the leading phone manufacturer with 34% of the market. By the time Apple were finished with even more new models, it left Blackberry with 0% of the marketplace. That is how much this device started a chain reaction rarely seen in technology.
The very first iPhone commercial perfectly demonstrates our love for phones over the ages and how the smartphone was going to change that. The commercial ran in the slot at the Oscars and went viral. You can watch it above.
“The smartphone saw the birth of nomophobia.”
The possibilities to surf the web, listen to music, use social media apps, message friends, all started in earnest with this device in 2007. There have been fifteen more models, but the principles have remained the same — this is the device you now depend on.
