IBM Simon
The Simon Personal Communicator shown in its charging base
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| Brand | BellSouth Designed by IBM |
|---|---|
| Developer | IBM |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Electric Corp. |
| Compatible networks | AMPS |
| First released | August 16, 1994 |
| Availability by country | United States August 16, 1994 (BellSouth Cellular) |
| Discontinued | February 1995 |
| Units sold | 50,000 |
| Predecessor | Angler (code name) |
| Successor | Neon (code name) |
| Type | Smartphone |
| Form factor | Brick |
| Dimensions |
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| Weight | 18 oz (510 g) |
| Operating system | Datalight ROM-DOS |
| CPU | Vadem 16 MHz, 16-bit, x86-compatible |
| Memory | 1 MB |
| Storage | 1 MB |
| Battery | 7.5V NiCad |
| Data inputs |
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| Display | 4.5 in × 1.4 in (114 mm × 36 mm), 160px x 293px monochrome backlit LCD |
| Connectivity |
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| References | |
The IBM Simon Personal Communicator (simply known as IBM Simon) was a handheld, touchscreen mobile phone and PDA designed and engineered by International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and assembled under contract by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. BellSouth Cellular Corp. distributed the Simon Personal Communicator in the United States between August 1994 and February 1995, selling 50,000 units. The Simon Personal Communicator was the first cellular phone to include telephone and PDA features in one device.
IBM debuted a prototype device, code named "Angler," on November 23, 1992 at the COMDEX computer and technology trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The Angler prototype combined a mobile phone and PDA into one device, allowing a user to make and receive telephone calls, facsimiles, emails and cellular pages. Not only did the prototype have many PDA features including a calendar, address book and notepad, but also demonstrated other apps such as maps, stocks and news. COMDEX show attendees and the press showed notable interest in the device. The day after Angler's debut, USA Today featured a photo on the front page of the Money section showing Frank Canova, IBM's lead architect and inventor of the smartphone, holding the Angler prototype.
BellSouth executives gave the finished product its final name, "Simon Personal Communicator", before its public debut at the Wireless World Conference in November 1993. BellSouth Cellular had planned to begin selling Simon in May 1994, but due to problems with the device's software, the Simon did not become available to consumers until August 16, 1994. BellSouth Cellular initially offered the Simon throughout its 15 state service area for US$899 with a two-year service contract or US$1099 without a contract. Later in the product's life, BellSouth Cellular reduced the price to US$599 with a two-year contract.
BellSouth Cellular sold approximately 50,000 units during the product's six months on the market.
Although the term "smartphone" was not coined until 1995, because of Simon's features and capabilities, it has been referred to as the first smartphone.
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Wikipedia