This chunky, black box below was the world's first 'smartphone'.

The IBM Simon went on sale to the public on 16 August 1994 and combined mobile phone technology with a wide range of computing features.

To mark the 20th anniversary, London's Science Museum is putting it on display in its new Information Age gallery.

"The Simon wasn't called a smartphone back then," said curator Charlotte Connelly.

"But it had a lot of the features we see today. It had a calendar, it could take notes and send emails and messages and combined all of this with a cell phone."

Weighing in at 500g (1.1lb), the Simon was not exactly pocket-sized. However, Ms Connelly insisted the design was ahead of its time.

"It looks like a grey block but it's not as big as you'd imagine," she said. "It had a stylus and a green LCD screen, which is similar in size to the iPhone 4. In fact, it's not a bad looking thing."

IBM's pioneering product was also the first mobile phone to feature software apps and could be linked up to a fax machine.
It was only available to customers in the United States, operating within a 15 state network and sold around 50,000 models.

The device was particularly popular with members of the business community, who craved a transportable phone that doubled up as a mini-computer.

Source: BBC news and Wikipedia

this should be a dull phone

Onlinebizexpert: this should be a dull phone

Back then, it's a machine!!

Oboy see smartphone like palito radio...

We are finally here.

NAME: chimax
COUNTRY: Nigeria
DATE OF BIRTH: 15th sept.199..
GENDER: Male
HOBBIES:
-Catching lizards, snakes and taking
hyenas for
walk;
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MY RECORD:
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-Skinned a crocodile alive;
-Held my breath under water for
2months.
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT:
-The very first man to walk on the sun;
-Fluent in 10,565 languages.
SILLY THINGS DONE:
-Drank the red sea dry;
-Sky diving from outer space.
EMBARRASSING MOMENT:
-Couldn't kill 1,000 lions with a single
punch, only killed 999
instantly, then tamed the last one.
SOMETHING ABOUT ME:
I really dont like to brag
PS - That's for those always asking via
Pm 'can I know you
more'... now you know...

Api byday to the world first smart phone. BTW. In the next 20 years our present smart phones will be seen as a joke by our children

Looks like an aboki radio, used in receiving BBC Hausa signals.

nigga pac was a lover of this device way back in time

Imagine that phone being the talk of the town, imagine tech analyst talking about it on all major tv all over the world.

this is wack even for 1994

Onlinebizexpert: this should be a dull phone

hakunajay:

Back then, it's a machine!!

hatux: Oboy see smartphone like palito radio...

seunfly: Imagine that phone being the talk of the town, imagine tech analyst talking about it on all major tv all over the world.

mehhh there is god ooo

Onlinebizexpert: this should be a dull phone

In 20 years time, all the "sophisticated devices" we have now will become an antique to younger generation...

"MEMORY~1MB"
"STORAGE ~1MB"
...can't stop laughing

careytommy: this is wack even for 1994

how many phones with touchscreens did you see in 1994??

wait, how many phones with SCREENS did you see back then??

were you even born at that time

Interesting. There can't be an end to innovations.

It looks stylish to me...

Only thing is; it would be kept strictly in the office or home. 1mb memory?

careytommy: this is wack even for 1994

Shebi ur papa dey use iPhone 5s for 1994 abi

You call this one smart? I give up