How were smartphones invented, how did they become central to our lives, and what are the changes and side effects?

The invention and evolution of smartphones began with IBM’s Simon and Nokia’s Communicator line of phones, and became widespread after the introduction of Apple’s iPhone. Smartphones have transformed many industries with the advancement of communication technology and application stores, but they have also created side effects such as illegal downloads and security issues.

 

Smartphones have become an indispensable tool in the modern world. Considering that just a few decades ago, not many people had smartphones, the rate of adoption has been astounding. Smartphones are used for a variety of purposes, from checking the arrival time of the subway or bus on the way to work or school, to listening to music or checking the news online. But when and how were smartphones invented, and how did they become such a central part of our lives?
First, let’s look at the definition of a smartphone. According to Wikipedia, a smartphone is an advanced cell phone that provides PC-like functionality. According to this definition, a smartphone can do most of the things that a PC can do, except for a few specialized features that are only available on a PC, and it can also perform the functions of a cell phone. Before smartphones, cell phones were primarily used for communication, such as calling and texting. However, users’ needs led to the development of phones with more advanced features, the first of which is believed to have been IBM’s Simon. It had a touchscreen for entering phone numbers, an address book, world time, calculator, notepad, email, faxing, and entertainment. However, it was different from modern smartphones, and it’s hard to consider the Simon a true smartphone.
Nokia’s subsequent line of smartphones were more advanced. In 1996, Nokia released its first line of smartphones with the 9000 model. Notably, the Nokia 9210 was the first smartphone to feature a color screen, making it a true smartphone. Improvements in telecommunications technology also played a big role in the evolution of smartphone technology. With the development of communication technology, users demanded faster data speeds, and the communication environment improved every year. Wi-Fi plays an important role in delivering internet data to devices like smartphones. The Nokia 9500 Communicator was the first camera phone and Wi-Fi enabled cell phone.
The modern smartphone was first introduced by Apple. In 2007, Apple introduced the iPhone, a smartphone that combined the functionality of an MP3 player, cell phone, and mobile internet. Apple has released a new version of the iPhone every year since then, steadily upgrading storage, memory, and features. In South Korea, LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics pioneered smartphone development. In April 2000, they launched smartphones with larger LCD screens and the ability to manage thousands of addresses. Samsung, in particular, became competitive in the smartphone market in 2009 with its Galaxy series. By 2023, the company was leading the market with various models such as the Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Flip5, and Galaxy Z Fold5.
One of the most important things that distinguishes a smartphone from other phones is the application store. Applications, or “apps,” provide a wide range of content that users want, including games, ebooks, music, videos, and more. The concept of app stores was first revitalized by Apple’s App Store. Today, there are many different application markets, including Google Play and the Ovi Store, where you can download or purchase software for your smartphone’s operating system. The main advantage of app stores is that they can add new features without requiring an additional upgrade to your smartphone. It’s also easy for users to submit their own applications to the store.
The rise of smartphones has also led to the decline of several industries. MP3 players are a prime example. Before smartphones were commercialized, many people used MP3 players to listen to music. However, once smartphones became widespread, MP3 players became obsolete as people were able to download and listen to high-quality music on their smartphones. The demand for gaming electronics like the Nintendo DS has also plummeted. With new games being released daily in application stores, there is less reason to use a device like the Nintendo DS, which requires the purchase of new game chips. Smartphones have disrupted many industries by consolidating multiple devices that specialize in different functions into one.
While the development of smartphones has brought us convenience, it has also brought us negative side effects. One of them is the problem of illegal downloading. While some users legitimately purchase music from music services like Apple Music, many others download music illegally. The companies that manage the app stores try to take down these illegal applications, but the bans only encourage new ones to appear, creating a vicious cycle. The problem of jailbreaking iOS is also still not solved. Jailbreaking is done in order to access content that Apple has blocked, which allows you to use applications that ignore the rules of the app store.
In conclusion, smartphones have had a huge impact on our lives and will continue to do so in the future. In this article, we’ve seen how smartphones have developed, their main features, and the industries they’ve decimated and the side effects they’ve had. Smartphones have made our lives easier, but we need to take measures against their negative effects.