IBM Simon
 | |
| Brand | IBM |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Electric Corp. |
| Compatible networks | AMPS |
| First released | August 16, 1994 |
| Availability by region | United States August 16, 1994 (BellSouth Cellular) |
| Discontinued | February 1995 |
| Units sold | 50,000 |
| Predecessor | Angler (code name) |
| Successor | Neon (code name) |
| Type | Smartphone |
| Form factor | Brick |
| Dimensions |
|
| Mass | 18 oz (510 g) |
| Operating system | Datalight ROM-DOS |
| CPU | Vadem 16 MHz, 16-bit, x86-compatible |
| Memory | 1 MB |
| Storage | 1 MB |
| Battery | 7.5V NiCad |
| Display | 4.5 in (110 mm) x 1.4 in (36 mm), 160px x 293px monochrome backlit LCD |
| Connectivity |
|
| Data inputs |
|
| References | [1][2][3][4] |
The IBM Simon Personal Communicator was a handheld, touchscreen cellular phone and PDA designed and engineered by International Business Machines Inc. (IBM) and assembled under contract by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. BellSouth Cellular Corp. distributed the Simon Personal Communicator in the United States between August, 1994 and February, 1995, selling 50,000 units. The Simon Personal Communicator was the first cellular phone to include telephone and PDA features in one device. Although the term "smartphone" had not been coined at the time of the Simon's release, because of its features and capabilities, the Simon can be referred to as the first smartphone.
History
IBM debuted a prototype device, code named "Angler," on November, 23, 1992 at the COMDEX computer and technology trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The Angler prototype combined a cell phone and PDA into one device, allowing a user to make and receive telephone calls, facsimiles, emails and cellular pages, among other functions. COMDEX show attendees and the press showed notable interest in the device. The day after Angler's debut, USA Today featured a photo on the front page of the Money section showing Frank Canova, Angler's architect, holding the prototype.[1][5][6]
BellSouth executives gave the finished product its final name, "Simon Personal Communicator", before its public debut at the Wireless World Conference in November, 1993.[1] BellSouth Cellular had planned to begin selling Simon in May, 1994, but due to problems with the device's software, the Simon did not become available to consumers until August 16, 1994. BellSouth Cellular initially offered the Simon throughout its 15 state service area for US$899 with a two-year service contract or US$1099 without a contract. Later in the product's life, BellSouth Cellular reduced the price to US$599 with a two-year contract.[2][7]
BellSouth Cellular sold approximately 50,000 units during the product's six months on the market.[1]
Although the term "smartphone" was not coined until 1997, because of Simon's features and capabilities, it can be referred to as the first smartphone.[1][8][9]
Features
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2012) |
In addition to its ability to make and receive cellular phone calls, Simon was also able to send and receive facsimiles, e-mails and cellular pages. Simon included many applications including an address book, calendar, appointment scheduler, calculator, world time clock, electronic note pad, handwritten annotations and standard and predictive stylus input screen keyboards.
Each Simon was shipped with a charging base station, two nickel-cadmium batteries and a protective leather cover.
Operating system and applications
The Simon used the file system from Datalight ROM-DOS along with file compression from Stacker. IBM created a unique touch-screen user interface for Simon; no DOS prompt existed.[2] This user interface software layer for Simon was known as the Navigator.[10]
The Simon could be upgraded to run third party applications either by inserting a PCMCIA card or by downloading an application to the phone's internal memory.
Atlanta, Georgia-based PDA Dimensions developed "DispatchIt", the only aftermarket, third-party application developed for Simon. The DispatchIt application costs were US$2,999 for the host PC software and US$299 for each Simon software client.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e Sager, Ira (2012-06-29). "Before IPhone and Android Came Simon, the First Smartphone". Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg. ISSN 2162-657X. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
Simon was the first smartphone. Twenty years ago, it envisioned our app-happy mobile lives, squeezing the features of a cell phone, pager, fax machine, and computer into an 18-ounce black brick.
- ^ a b c O'Malley, Chris (1994-12). "Simonizing the PDA". Byte. 19 (12). Mc-Graw Hill Publishing Company: 145–148. ISSN 0360-5280. Archived from the original on 1999-02-21. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
The CPU is a 16-bit x86-compatible processor running at 16 MHz, a single-chip design manufactured by Vadem. Simon runs a version of DOS called ROM-DOS, from Datalight...
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Bellsouth, IBM Unveil Personal Communicator Phone". Mobile Phone News. CBS Interactive. 1993-11-08. ISSN 0737-5077. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
The phone currently is based on an AMPS standard...
- ^ "BellSouth - IBM Simon PDA Cellphone". RetroCom. RetroCom. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
Graphic display: 160 x 293
- ^ Schneidawind, John (1992-11-23). "Poindexter Putting Finger on PC Bugs; Big Blue Unveiling". USA Today. Gannett Company. p. 2B. ISSN 0734-7456.
- ^ Bradner, Erin (2011-07-21). "Are You an Innovation Giant?". Designing the User Experience at Autodesk. Autodesk. Archived from the original on 2012-11-23. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "IBM's Plans to Ship Simon Put On Hold for Time Being". Mobile Phone News. CBS Interactive. 1994-04-04. ISSN 0737-5077. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
Technical issues, resulting from the integration of Simon's cellular faxing capability, were discovered early in the manufacturing and development cycle as IBM's quality assurance testing was being conducted. IBM will hold up shipments of the device until the bugs are worked out.
- ^ "Ericsson GS88 Preview". Eri-no-moto. 2006. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
- ^ "Penelope Box". Stockholm Smartphone. 2010. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
- ^ US patent 5537608, Brent A. Beatty; Francis J. Canova, Jr. & Charles S. Lanier et al., "Personal communicator apparatus", issued 1996-07-19, assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
- ^ Polishuk, Paul, ed. (1995-05). "BellSouth Cellular Corp. Announces DispatchIt Software for Simon". Wireless Telecommunications Newsletter. 5 (5). Boston, Massachusetts: Information Gatekeepers, Inc.: 9–10. ISSN 1083-7779. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
BellSouth Cellular Corp. (BSCC) and PDA Dimensions...announced the commercial availability of DispatchIt, a work order field service application using Simon, BSCC's personal communicator.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
- "Simon". Buxton Collection. Microsoft Corporation. 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-11-23. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
Simon is the first smartphone. It paved the way for the ones of today by introducing touch screens to phones.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "Buxton Collection Sampler". CHI 2011. ACM SIGCHI. 2011. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-23. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
IBM / Bell South Simon Smartphone: First shown in 1993, this was the world's first so-called 'smart phone'.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - The $899 Prehistoric Predecessor to the iPhone (FLV) (Web video). Bloomberg. 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
Long before the smartphone revolution, IBM and BellSouth teamed up to build and sell the Simon Personal Communicator, a 1-pound, $899 mobile phone that ran apps and featured the first touch screen. It lasted just six months after being put on the market in the summer of 1994.