15 Years Ago Today, the iPhone Went On Sale

[MacRumors]

Fifteen years ago to this day, the iPhone, the revolutionary device presented to the world by the late Steve Jobs, officially went on sale.

The first iPhone was announced by Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, and went on sale on June 29, 2007. "An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator... these are not three separate devices," Jobs famously said. "Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone," he added.

Ever since its debut, the iPhone has gone on to change the world and the mobile technology industry forever. After its launch on June 29, 2007, it took only 74 days before Apple announced it had sold over 1 million iPhones. The first iPhone retailed for $499.

Fifteen years later, the iPhone has completely evolved, featuring advanced performance capabilities, and cameras, accompanied by iOS and the App Store, which the first iPhone did not have. In an interview that was published yesterday ahead of the anniversary, Apple's Greg Joswiak and other Apple executives involved in the development of the iPhone discussed what it was like launching the iPhone and how it defined the industry for years to come.

Article Link: 15 Years Ago Today, the iPhone Went On Sale

 

[arkitect]

The only Apple product release I ever queued for.

The hype! The drama! The excitement!

Happy days!

 

[rwh63]

iPhone 4s: best ever!

 

[siddavis]

And you could use it with one hand! 😀

 

[contacos]

How far we have gotten. No front camera, 3 (?) GB, no App Store or Copy & Paste.

Some things remain unchanged though: fixed app Layout on the Home Screen

 

[kirky29]

I remember my dad took out a new phone contract for me because I was under 18 and O2 wouldn't let!
Then I remember getting back home and the activation process took a couple of hours! Wonderful times.

 

[siddavis]

Balmer said nobody would be interested in a $500 phone.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

Nokia and Blackberry will not be fond of this day 15 years ago as it marked both companies demise into oblivion.

 

[rizzo41999]

I remember this like yesterday - everyone was so pumped!

 

[jmgregory1]

I remember picking up two of the original iPhones and if I remember correctly, getting a credit after Apple started offering a carrier discount. As much as they were slow performance-wise (compared to today’s devices), they did things that all my Blackberry using friends couldn’t believe, like browsing the web and pinch to zoom that allowed for actually being able to read small text on-screen.

 

[odinsride]

I remember there not being an app store on the original iPhone. We were forced to use the apps given to us by Apple. Oh how times have changed!

 

[gank41]

I sold my OG iPhone on eBay about 3 years ago for $1000. And I almost wish I still had it

 

[Aquaporin]

I remember think $999 for a phone was outrageous and that I would never be able to afford one. It wasn't until the 3G version was released that I got on the iPhone bandwagon. The halo effect of the iPod was real folks.
iPod third generation for PC -> eMac -> MacBook -> iMac(s) -> iPhone(s) -> MacBook Pro(s) -> Apple TV(s) -> Apple Watch(es).

Before that iPod I ran a PC. Since 10.4 I have been on Mac.

I am stuck in the cult!

 

[runeapple]

Back when Apple was good

 

[runeapple]

I sold my OG iPhone on eBay about 3 years ago for $1000. And I almost wish I still had it

Good price i've still got mine, not because I plan on it being worth lots (as I doubt it as it's not sealed and missing accessories) but because it was the first phone I ever liked and it changed what a phone is.

 

[infinitejest]

Remember when Steve showed it on stage for the first time and demonstrated how you can scroll through your music library by just using your finger and everyone in the audience was like WOOAHAHHA. Those were the days of innovation!

 

[Coochie Boogs]

Remarkable to say the least, truly amazing. I almost wish sometimes they would release a retro iPhone with todays internals, wishful thinking I suppose.

 

[ninecows]

I remember there not being an app store on the original iPhone. We were forced to use the apps given to us by Apple. Oh how times have changed!

Yeah… but to be fair I guess that was more or less the case on most phones back then? Some “smart” phones did allow you to install some apps, but it was from odd places.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Wow! Tempus fugit!

 

[antiprotest]

And after more than a decade we will soon be getting some of the features that should have been there on day one. How exciting!

 

[x5tuu]

I remember my dad took out a new phone contract for me because I was under 18 and O2 wouldn't let!
Then I remember getting back home and the activation process took a couple of hours! Wonderful times.

That wasn't until the November of 2007 at the very earliest which is when the o2 and Apple officially launched in the UK - but initial release batches were for o2 Gold and Platinum customers (as their tiers were at the time).

 

[x5tuu]

I bought my 2G original in late July/early August, in MBK in Bangkok, Thailand, it was already jailbroken to allow any sim use - this was before the days of named JailBreaks too ... it was just the iPhone Dev Team IIRC

When I flew home I had a right carry on getting my UK carrier to provide the settings for it as it still wasn't released in the UK at that point

 

[gank41]

Good price i've still got mine, not because I plan on it being worth lots (as I doubt it as it's not sealed and missing accessories) but because it was the first phone I ever liked and it changed what a phone is.

I had to sell it with the only cable I had that would connect. Meaning I could no longer use my OG iPad anymore unless I search for a used cable.

I remember the OG iPhone being super fast compared to my HTC Titan. And in many ways, because it could only use web apps, it was a lot faster.

 

[jonnysods]

Man I still remember the wow factor of this device. I was able to get one in Canada from a guy in the US as I just had to have one. All my friends were teasing me for being an Apple fanboy, they all had blackberry's....

 

[Cromulent]

I remember when this came out and decided to skip it because it didn't support 3G, which was becoming a big thing in the UK at the time. I ended up getting the iPhone 3G the following year and enjoying the apps available in the app store.