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First ‘Smartphone’ Celebrates 20 Years Anniversary

On August 16, 1994, the world’s first ‘smartphone’ went on sale by IBM. The IBM Simon was the first mobile phone to feature a calendar, the ability to take notes, and send emails and messages.  The phone was also the first time a mobile device included software apps and could be connected to a fax machine.

The phone was similar in size to the iPhone 4, had a green LCD screen, and a stylus. The phone weighed 1.1 pounds and only had one hour of battery life. The company sold approximately 50,000 units, but because of the cost, inadequate battery life, and no mobile internet, the IBM Simon was removed from the market two years later.

Read more about the world’s first ‘smartphone’. 

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