Apple Released the iPhone Eight Years Ago Today

[petvas]

I can remember how excited I was. I loved my iPhone. It was the best gadget I ever had, but since then a lot of things have changed, but unfortunately not the way iOS works. Now I have switched to an Android device, but I would love to come back at some point, if Apple makes something exciting again.

 

[sirdir]

I still have my original iPhone. Bought it unlocked from the US. Had to unlock it again when an update came out. But are you sure it was ever sold in Europe? I thought only the 3G was ever sold here.

 

[0098386]

As much as I rely on and like the current iPhone 6, it wasn't until the 4 that I really wanted one. The first one was good but (to me) served as a indication of where tech was going. Once the app store hit and the phone itself looked amazing, that's when I wanted one. Much like the Apple watch now - I can't wait to see where this tech goes.

 

[Rogifan]

I can remember how excited I was. I loved my iPhone. It was the best gadget I ever had, but since then a lot of things have changed, but unfortunately not the way iOS works. Now I have switched to an Android device, but I would love to come back at some point, if Apple makes something exciting again.

What would make the iPhone exciting to you?

 

[OllyW]

I still have my original iPhone. Bought it unlocked from the US. Had to unlock it again when an update came out. But are you sure it was ever sold in Europe? I thought only the 3G was ever sold here.

The UK definitely and I think France and Germany also had it.

EDIT: Ha, ha.

Try reading the first post...

The original iPhone was exclusive to AT&T in the United States before launching in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Portugal, Ireland and Austria in November 2007. The 8GB model initially cost $599 on a two-year contract until Apple dropped the price to $399 in September 2007, far more expensive than today's starting price of $199.

 

[John.B]

Lest we forget:

Dell: Apple should close shop - CNET News

When it comes to the state of Apple Computer, everyone has an opinion.

And at the Gartner Symposium and ITxpo97 here today, the CEO of competitor Dell Computer added his voice to the chorus when asked what could be done to fix the Mac maker. His solution was a drastic one.

"What would I do? I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders," Michael Dell said before a crowd of several thousand IT executives.

 

[nazaar]

The original iPhone... Still a beauty.

 

[bushido]

i remember watching the keynote as a teenager thinking the 499€ price tag was without contract. the moment i found out it isnt being subsidiced (sp) i was devestated lol

when i got my 3G later on everyone looked at me like uuuugh it doesnt have a pen? how stupid is THAT why use ur finger

time flies, even those going on and on about how u cant send files over bluetooth have shut up by now

 

[billnye97]

I waited outside of the local AT&T store for 10 hours to get one. It replaced my Motorola Razr. No App Store, no MMS, but man was that phone awesome.

 

[roland.g]

There's some tool in the video auctioning off his iPhone in the exit line. You may be tempted to call him an opportunist or entrepreneur, until you see him.

 

[swordfish5736]

I honestly can't remember but I think it went from $600 down to $400 and the people who bought it at $600 got $100 back from Apple, Store Credit of course. $800 would have been a big price tag to swallow and I don't think it would have sold that high. $600 is expensive, especially in 2007 for a phone, but still got enough people buying. I don't think I would have jumped at it for $800.

I think it may have been $599 for 4gb, $699 for 8gb. Or was it $699, $799.

Then they dropped the price and gave us all the credit.

I remember going to get mine at an ATT store outside of the city on launch day. Then waiting hours for it to activate that night

 

[jdillings]

Jobs was the Nostradamus of our times: "What we want to do is make a leapfrog product that is way smarter than any mobile device has ever been, and super-easy to use. This is what iPhone is. OK? So, we’re going to reinvent the phone."

 

[redheeler]

To all those complaining that the iPhone 6 doesn't have enough RAM, this thing has 128 MB!

 

[Thunderhawks]

Happy Birthday!!

1 GB per year, anemic even now at 16 GB anemic.
See above 128 finally AFTER 8 years.

 

[Z400Racer37]

So?



Come on... It's a greedy company making great products. No less, no more.

Anyway, nice work Apple!
I still remember how impressed I was and knew instantly that I'd need one of those (of course not 1st gen )

Lol well they get to make money by changing the world. If their motive was greed or changing the world, it makes no difference to me, and either one is moral if pursued rationally, as they have.

 

[4jasontv]

What would make the iPhone exciting to you?

If it was smaller? Say a 3.5" screen.
If it flipped closed so I didn't need a case?
If it came with a dock like the iPods once did?
If they increased the price to the point where less people had one, so I could feel special?
If they were less successful so I could claim I was supporting the underdog?
If Steve were alive to demo it?
If they stopped trying to force productivity down my throat and made it easier to download porn without a web browser.
If it was free.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Seems like yesterday. Also hard to believe how our screen "needs" have evolved. The iPhone screen was so "luxurious" then compare to the Treo and BB. But it's like a Fisher Price toy today.

 

[baller1308]

$599 on 2 year contract, lol. People gasp at $199 on 2 year contract these days.

 

[2IS]

I miss Summer launches

 

[doboy]

Damn, it's been 8 years since I got my 1st gen iPhone. I still have it too

 

[4jasontv]

$599 on 2 year contract, lol. People gasp at $199 on 2 year contract these days.

I hate contracts because people do not understand them. Subsidized pricing lowers the value of the equipment to the point where they feel entitled to replace it for any model at any time. Then when they treat their equipment like crap and break it they complain that they should get a free device (and often an upgrade) because they are still under contract. I say no contracts. Pay full price or go with out! Rabble rabble rabble!

 

[OllyW]

Eight years on and there's still only one service provider in the UK (O2) that supports Visual Voicemail I think it's a similar story in most other countries?

Yes I know there's apps like Hullomail, but that's like having a TomTom stuck to your windscreen instead of having a built-in satnav in your car.

I wonder if it's deemed as too expensive by the other networks as I think implementing Visual Voicemail must have been a requirement for the initial exclusive deal.

 

[HenryDJP]

Wow, AT&T had a lot of iPhone customers.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

$599 on 2 year contract, lol. People gasp at $199 on 2 year contract these days.

Different time, different market. Even at $599 it only sold to "early adopter" types, and had to be priced downward soon after launch. My first Mac in 1988 -- a Mac SE/20 was $2400. That's like $4800 in 2015 dollars. No way am I spending that much on a computer now. I gasp when my iMac CTO reaches $2000.

 

[LordQ]

And the iPhone 7 (tenth generation iPhone) with iOS 10 will be amazing!