SAN FRANCISCO · 9 JANUARY 2007
THE iPHONE ARRIVES
The introduction that helped turn the mobile phone into a pocket computer.
A retrospective written in 2026 · Original sources from 2007
Three ideas. One device.
The 9 January 2007 announcement combined music, communication and the Internet in one product. Its direct, finger-driven interaction helped popularise a different relationship with mobile devices.
Historical note: the iPhone was announced on this date. US retail sales only began on 29 June 2007.
The original iPhone is introduced
At Macworld in San Francisco, Steve Jobs unveiled a device bringing together a mobile phone, an iPod and Internet communication. A multitouch interface allowed users to control it with their fingers rather than a traditional physical keypad.
A 3.5-inch touchscreen takes centre stage
Apple presented a 3.5-inch display, a virtual keyboard, Safari and maps. The camera had two megapixels. Connectivity included Wi-Fi and EDGE; the original model did not offer 3G.
Two versions: $499 and $599
The announced US price was $499 for the 4 GB model and $599 for the 8 GB model. These are historical announcement prices for 2007, not current retail prices.
Cingular named exclusive US carrier
Apple and Cingular announced an exclusive US distribution partnership on the same day. Visual Voicemail was one of the features they emphasised.
Apple Computer becomes Apple Inc.
At the same event, Steve Jobs announced the removal of “Computer” from the company name, reflecting its move into music, phones and consumer electronics.
The press sees a new type of device
Contemporary coverage highlighted the combination of music, Internet and phone features. Journalists also questioned use of the iPhone name, which was then associated with a Cisco trademark.
Apple TV shares the Macworld stage
The keynote was not only about the phone. Apple also announced Apple TV, a device for bringing digital content from a computer to a television.
A starting point, not the finished story
The first iPhone did not have the App Store that arrived in 2008, nor all the capabilities of later models. What made its unveiling significant was the ambition to combine previously separate tools into one device driven primarily by touch.
This special edition carefully separates what was announced in January from features that appeared later.