Today is one day after the fifth anniversary of Apple's iPhone being released to the public, and it marks the anniversary of when the concept of a smartphone became much more feasible. In January 2007, Apple's frontman, Steve Jobs, delivered one of his finest keynotes to introduce the company's latest device. His introduction to the iPhone went as following:
Today, we're introducing three revolutionary products. The first one is a widescreen iPod with touch controls. The second is a revolutionary mobile phone. The third is a breakthrough internet communications device. These are not three separate devices. This is one device. And we are calling it iPhone. Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone."
Depending on who you ask, Apple did and did not reinvent the phone. Some people would agree and some would oppose that opinion. We can definitely agree that the iPhone had a tremendous impact upon release, though. The original iPhone is difficult to find in common use, having had its support shed at iOS 3.1.3. Yet the 3G and 3GS, both older devices, are still common to find. iPhone 3GS devices still change hands for over £100 via eBay and other online retailers. They are still very much in demand despite being succeeded by both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.
The iPhone will be remembered as revolutionary as phones progress. It is one of the two main devices to have really pushed for more touch-screen devices on the market, alongside handsets running Google's Android operating system. With every refresh of the iPhone, Apple push the specifications a little further and add some new features. The prime example is Siri; the voice assistant exclusive to 4S at the time of writing. Apple's excellence in advertising has left the company able to refresh the phone annually and still know they will get sales from the device.
Famously, the iPhone was released to caution and doubt among technology journalists and fans, who questioned whether or not the device could really deliver. As the iPhone's legacy shows it did more than just deliver, blowing expectations out of the water as the formula was refined from year-to-year. The iPhone is now five years into a cycle which could last forever, if the device's popularity continues to expand and retain older customers as well. The future of the phone market is becoming more and more exciting with every new flagship device released, and the next iPhone will be no exception.
Image: Pavo23.Wordpress.com
30 Comments - Add comment