Let‘s explore the remarkable origin story and legacy of this 1990s gadget – retrospectively considered the world‘s first true "smartphone."
Overview
The Simon stands as a milestone device that presaged our modern mobile revolution. Developed via a collaboration between tech giants IBM and Mitsubishi in 1992-94, it merged a cell phone with PDA capabilities way ahead of its time.
Though a commercial failure from high pricing and limitations in battery and connectivity tech back then, the innovative Simon pioneered the entire concept of a versatile, pocket-sized touchscreen computer-phone.
Below we‘ll uncover…
- How the Simon phone came to exist through IBM‘s engineering creativity
- Its features, tech specs and software capabilities as a breakthrough gizmo
- The market reception from its launch by BellSouth through to being discontinued
- Lasting influence as the evolutionary precursor to today‘s ubiquitous smart devices
Get the full inside story on this dynamo that foreshadowed our app-driven, always-connected world!
From IBM‘s Labs: Origins of a Game-Changing Gadget
The Simon traces its origin to 1992 and a little-known IBM prototype nicknamed "Sweetspot." Inside IBM‘s labs, forward-thinking engineer Frank Canova realized chips and wireless tech could be fused into a revolutionary handheld device.
After Canova assembled a demo model combining a PDA organizer and cellular phone, his creation attracted interest within the computer industry. But it was reading a 1992 newspaper story on the proto-phone that convinced execs at BellSouth of the commercial potential.
They approached IBM on a partnership to develop the device. IBM agreed, collaborating with Japanese electronics firm Mitsubishi Electric. Mitsubishi added miniaturization expertise from its work on laptops and other portables.
This dream-team designed the production model initially known as "Angler." In late 1993, BellSouth rechristened it the "Simon Personal Communicator" prior to launch.
Let‘s look at why this phone was such a huge leap over other early mobiles.
Features and Capabilities
For its day, the IBM Simon represented a revolutionary advance in handheld gadgetry – hence the "Personal Communicator" branding.
What exactly could this history-making device do?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Touchscreen | Grayscale LCD with stylus input |
| Apps | Calendar, address book, notepad, etc. |
| Connectivity | Cellular calls and texts, fax, email |
| Interface | Virtual keyboards on-screen |
| Memory | 1MB built-in + expandable |
| Size & Weight | 9" x 5" x 1.4"; 1.1 lbs |
With this roster of PDAs and mobile features, Simon broke tremendous ground. Reviews from late 1993 raved about the innovation, like this snippet from the Chicago Tribune:
"The Simon marries a cellular phone to a…personal digital assistant. Using a stylus, owners can tap the touch-sensitive screen to take notes, sketch, manage calendars or dial calls."
But alas, the phone had familiar pioneers‘ troubles. The battery lasted barely an hour during calls. And mobile data networks then were just not built for a power-thirsty device of this caliber.
Let‘s see what happened next…
Market Release and Commercial Outcomes
Officially launched August 1994, the IBM Simon generated lots of buzz. BellSouth advertised it extensively as a breakthrough product for their new digital network.
The initial $899 price tag along with required service contracts put the Simon out of reach for many household consumers though.
Sales proved fairly disappointing, spurring price cuts to $599 to boost demand. Still, within 6 months, just 50,000 devices had sold.
While innovative in concept, the Simon handset couldn‘t match rivals from Nokia, Motorola and others evolving fast by the mid 90‘s. Boundaries like meager battery life or data speeds left it outdated quickly.
In February 1995, IBM halted production on the pioneering phone due to poor market results, ending the Simon‘s short lifespan.
Legacy: The First Smartphone
While a letdown business-wise, the IBM Simon pointed decisively toward the future. It demonstrated the enormous potential in merging mobile communications with personal organizer capabilities.
The Simon was absolutely groundbreaking in precognition of how we use pocket devices today.
It brought to life core concepts like app stores, touch displays and wireless connectivity – standard now but incredible notions then!
As tech consultant Richerd Fisco remarked:
"They had the idea way ahead of their time that telephones would be more than just communication devices. The Simon was the real precursor to…the smartphone."
The Simon phone kicked off continuous mobile tech evolution culminating in today‘s essential smart gadgets. Yes, early limitations like cost, battery drain and data constrained its success. Yet its vision profoundly shaped everything since.
Not bad for this little-known innovation from 1993!
When you tap an icon to message friends or snap pics on your sleek iPhone, quietly thank pioneer Simon for blazing the trail. 😉 Our mobile world owes much to its early seeds.
I hope you enjoyed discovering the fascinating history within IBM‘s proto-phone creation. What will the next great mobile tech breakthrough be, still being dreamed up in some campus lab today? Exciting times ahead!
