The First iPhone

On 9 January 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone at Macworld in San Francisco. It went on sale on 29 June 2007 and redefined the smartphone — and the mobile internet with it.

Apple presented the device as a combination of a phone, a widescreen music player and an internet communicator. Its interface used a large multi-touch display operated with fingers. A software keyboard appeared when needed, allowing the same screen to serve different purposes instead of reserving part of the device for permanent typing keys.

The announcement described features including web browsing, email, maps and a two-megapixel camera. Visual voicemail let users choose which recorded message to hear, while wireless connections included Wi-Fi as well as the mobile network. These functions were brought together in a single handheld product intended to make moving between communication, entertainment and internet use feel straightforward.

The initial American release was arranged with Cingular, and Apple announced versions with four or eight gigabytes of storage. The January presentation therefore introduced both a design and a commercial plan, months before customers could buy the phone. Looking back on its tenth anniversary, Apple described the original product as the beginning of a wider platform. The historical turning point in this puzzle is the first public introduction, rather than a later model, software update or expansion into another market.