Researched
Smartphone
The iPhone (2007) combines phone, computer, camera and internet access in one touchscreen device that everyone carries.
Open in the interactive tree →Precursors such as the IBM Simon (1994) and BlackBerry existed, but Apple’s iPhone (unveiled January 2007) and Google’s Android (2008) created the mass market: touch control, app stores, GPS and camera. Behind it are advances in processors, radio, displays and lithium batteries. Over a billion smartphones are sold each year, and for many people they are the first and only internet access.
Prerequisites
- Liquid-Crystal Display1971The touch screen of the first smartphones is a liquid-crystal display
- Microprocessor1971
- Mobile Networks (1G to 4G)1983
- Flash memory1984Flash memory holds the phone's apps, photos and system
- Lithium-Ion Battery1991
- Open Source & Linux1991Android is built on the Linux kernel
- Unicode1991Phones show every language and emoji thanks to Unicode
- World Wide Web1991
- Satellite navigation (GPS)1995Maps and location on every smartphone depend on GNSS receivers
- Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11)1997Wi-Fi gives phones fast data at home and at work
Unlocks
- Platform Economy1995-2009
- Social Media & Algorithmic Feeds2004-2012
- 5G Rollout & Road to 6G2019