-
The first cell phone was invented
On April 3, Martin Cooper made the first call using a mobile phone in New York. His invention was the first cell phone that was available to the public. It was nicknamed "the Brick", because it weighed about 2.2 kg.
-https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2326312793?searchid=1748548688&accountid=3541 -
The first cell phone was released.
The first commercially available cell phone, the DynaTAC 8000x, was released in 1983. While Martin Cooper made the first call on the prototype, the 1983 model was the first one available for purchase.
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone#:~:text=The%20first%20handheld%20mobile%20phone,of%20total%20mobile%20phone%20sales. -
The IBM Simon Personal Communicator was invented
The IBM Simon is typically cited as the first smartphone. It featured a touchscreen, email capabilities, and other common modern smartphone features.
-https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2326401144?searchid=1748548612&accountid=3541 -
First camera phone introduced
The first camera phone was invented in 1999 in Japan. Its name was the Kyocera Visual Phone VP-210. It was a mobile videophone with a 110,000-pixel front-facing camera. While other phones with built-in cameras were also released around this time, like the Samsung SCH-V200 in South Korea, the Kyocera VP-210 is widely considered the first commercially available camera phone.
-https://www.textedly.com/blog/smartphone-history-when-were-smartphones-invented -
Cell phones gain internet access
Smartphones began to gain widespread internet access around 2001 with the creation of 3G networks. While earlier mobile phones had basic internet connectivity in 1996, the 3G network enabled significantly faster speeds and better internet experiences, making smartphones truly internet-capable devices.
-https://www.textedly.com/blog/smartphone-history-when-were-smartphones-invented#:~:text=Finally%2C%20smartphones%20and%20the%20Internet,conference%20with%20their%20mobile%20devices. -
The first iPhone is released
The first iPhone removed physical buttons and designed a finger-friendly touch screen interface. It basically combined the iPod, a phone, and a internet communicator into one device. It also introduced a new era of software sophistication and redefined what was possible on a mobile device.
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_(1st_generation) -
First Android phone released
The HTC Dream was released in October of 2008. It ran on Android 1.0. It was significant for its open-source nature and the inclusion of Google services, laying the foundation for the modern Android ecosystem. It stood out by integrating Google services like Gmail, Google Maps, and Calendar, and it offered access to the Android Market for downloading apps.
-https://simpletexting.com/blog/where-have-we-come-since-the-first-smartphone -
Smartphones gain increasingly powerful processers
Smartphones become ubiquitous, with increasingly powerful processors, higher resolution screens, and advanced features like augmented reality.
-https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/smartphone/570926#:~:text=Smartphones%20became%20more%20computer%2Dlike,interest%2C%20or%20real%20estate%20listings. -
Modern phones are released with many new features
Smartphones now are so much more technologically advanced compared to 20 years ago. For example, in 2025, smartphones feature advancements in AI, improved camera capabilities, and more efficient battery life. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a standout with its sophisticated Galaxy AI integration, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers a bright display and enhanced camera features.
-https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-phones -
My prediction for future smartphones
In 2050, smartphones will likely be much more integrated into our lives and environment, potentially becoming less noticeable as physical devices and more integrated with our bodies or the environment. They could evolve into wearable devices like glasses, contact lenses, or even be embedded in our hands. Instead of being a separate device, they may be integrated with our brains via brain-computer interfaces, allowing for direct access to information and the internet.