The Phone That Changed The World

The very first iPhone was unveiled 10 years ago, on January 7, 2007. While it wasn’t the first smartphone, it leapfrogged far beyond the competition and launched the mobile revolution, and the world has never been the same since.

- James lu

The iPhone puts the internet in everyone’s pocket

When Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone, he described it as “a revolutionary mobile phone,” a “widescreen iPod with touch controls” and a “breakthrough internet communications device.” While the first iPhone didn’t even have 3G connectivity, its web kit-based internet browser made it one of the first smartphones to deliver a smooth and optimized mobile internet experience. When the iPhone 3G rolled out with both 3G connectivity and, more importantly, the App Store, there was no longer a need to sit at your desktop computer or laptop to access the internet, everything was available on your phone.

The iPhone turned everyone into a photographer

Photographer Chase Jarvis once said, “the best camera is the one you have with you.” For millions of people, the iPhone became their go-to camera, always within reach to capture the perfect moment. While the iPhone started with just a 2MP rear camera, and no front camera, it was enough to almost single-handedly kill the digital compact camera market.

The iPhone’s internet connectivity and the simultaneous rise of social media apps like Instagram and Twitter in turn, gave people a place to share their photos. According to market research firm Key point Intelligence, 1.2 trillion digital photos will be taken this year, and 85 percent of those will be with a smartphone. That’s up from 400 billion digital photos taken in 2011.

The iPhone revolutionized software development and distribution