The earliest smartphone brands included IBM with their Simon Personal Communicator, and Nokia with their Communicator series.
While defining a "smartphone" in its earliest days can be subjective, the following devices represent key milestones in the evolution of the category:
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IBM:
- IBM Simon Personal Communicator (1994): Often cited as the first smartphone, the Simon combined cellular phone capabilities with PDA features. It had a touchscreen, email, and fax capabilities.
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Nokia:
- Nokia Communicator series (Starting 1996): Nokia's Communicator line built upon the concepts introduced by the Simon, adding features geared towards business users. The early Communicators featured full QWERTY keyboards, enhanced email functionality, and fax capabilities.
Here's a table summarizing these early smartphone brands and their groundbreaking devices:
| Brand | Device | Year | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBM | Simon Personal Communicator | 1994 | Touchscreen, Email, Fax, PDA features |
| Nokia | Nokia Communicator (9000, and beyond) | 1996 | Enhanced Email, Fax, Full QWERTY keyboard (starting with the 9000), Business applications |
These devices, particularly the IBM Simon and the Nokia Communicator series, were pioneers in integrating mobile phone functionality with personal computing features, paving the way for the smartphones we know today. They represent the earliest attempts to combine communication and computing in a single, portable device, and their legacy continues to influence modern smartphone design and functionality.
