iPhone 2G

iPhone 2G
Name	iPhone (original)
Manufacturer	Apple Inc.
Release date	June 29, 2007
Discontinued	July 15, 2008
Os	iPhone OS 1.0 (upgradable)
Cpu	412 MHz ARM 11
Memory	128 MB
Storage	4, 8, 16 GB
Display	3.5-inch 320×480 TFT
Camera	2 MP rear
Connectivity	GSM, EDGE, Wi‑Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0

iPhone 2G The original iPhone, introduced in 2007, was a smartphone developed by Apple Inc., unveiled at a keynote by Steve Jobs that reshaped the consumer electronics market and influenced mobile computing, telecommunications, and digital media distribution. It combined technologies from companies and projects such as Intel, ARM Holdings, AT&T, Google, and Sony into a single consumer device that integrated telephony, web browsing, and multimedia playback.

Development and Announcement

Development began within Apple Inc. under project names and teams linked to figures and units like Steve Jobs, Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall, Tony Fadell, and the Jony Ive design studio, drawing on components and patents from suppliers including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Broadcom, STMicroelectronics, and Infineon Technologies. The device was announced during a high-profile presentation at the Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco, alongside references to products and services like iPod, iTunes, Microsoft, Palm, Inc., Nokia, and BlackBerry. Development intersected with legal and standards contexts involving organizations such as the Federal Communications Commission, European Commission, GSM Association, and patent portfolios held by entities like Qualcomm and AT&T Inc..

Design and Hardware

The handset's enclosure and industrial design traced aesthetics from Apple Computer hardware lines and the Design Museum, reflecting influences associated with Dieter Rams and the Bauhaus movement while relying on suppliers including Foxconn, Pegatron Corporation, Corning Incorporated, and Sony Corporation for components such as the Gorilla Glass predecessor, multi-touch digitizer, and camera module. Hardware specifications incorporated an ARM architecture CPU licensed from ARM Holdings, memory chips from Samsung Electronics, flash storage from Toshiba, and wireless components like Broadcom Wi‑Fi chips and Infineon Technologies baseband modems. The user interface utilized a capacitive multitouch display influenced by academic work from institutions such as University of Delaware and University of Toronto, and featured physical elements like a single Home button and a stainless steel frame that echoed engineering practices from companies like General Electric and manufacturing partners including Quanta Computer.

Software and Features

The device launched with iPhone OS (later iOS), an operating system integrating elements from Mac OS X, Darwin (operating system), and technologies developed by teams linked to Scott Forstall and Avie Tevanian. Core applications included Safari (web browser), Mail, iPod, and Photos, and leveraged protocols and services such as HTML, JavaScript, QuickTime, and MPEG-4. The software architecture interacted with developer ecosystems exemplified by Apple Developer, competing platforms like Symbian, Windows Mobile, and Android (operating system), and content distribution via iTunes Store and media partnerships with companies such as Disney, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group.

Release, Sales, and Market Impact

The device's retail rollout in the United States occurred through a partnership with AT&T Inc. and included retail strategies influenced by Apple Store operations, distribution networks like Best Buy, and telecommunications regulation in markets such as the European Union and Japan. Initial sales figures and market reactions affected incumbents including Nokia, Research In Motion, Motorola, and retailers like Walmart and carriers such as Vodafone. The launch catalyzed shifts in handset design and carrier business models observed in markets tracked by analysts at firms like Gartner and IDC, and provoked discussions in legal venues including courts that later hosted disputes involving Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd..

Reception and Criticism

Critical response from publications and outlets such as The New York Times, Wired, Bloomberg L.P., CNET, and The Guardian highlighted innovations while noting limitations compared to contemporaries like Nokia N95 and BlackBerry Pearl; commentators referenced user interface breakthroughs attributed to Jony Ive and Steve Jobs as well as constraints in areas overseen by AT&T Inc., Qualcomm, and Google. Critics pointed to issues with cellular performance on EDGE networks, lack of third‑party native applications relative to Palm OS and Windows Mobile, and enterprise features compared to BlackBerry Limited, prompting discussions in forums and industry events such as WWDC and regulatory inquiries involving Federal Trade Commission contexts.

Legacy and Influence on Future iPhones

The original device established design language, software paradigms, and supply‑chain models that shaped subsequent products from Apple Inc., including successors presented at WWDC and Apple Special Event keynotes and iterations influenced by teams led by Tim Cook, Craig Federighi, and Eddy Cue. Its impact extended to competitors like Samsung Electronics, HTC Corporation, LG Electronics, and the broader Android (operating system) ecosystem, as well as to industries including music distribution via iTunes Store and app economies that engaged companies such as Google Play partners, independent developers, and app marketplaces tracked by organizations like App Annie. The device is preserved in collections and exhibitions at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, Smithsonian Institution, and archives documenting technological innovation and industrial design.

Category:Apple hardware Category:Smartphones introduced in 2007