Main article: History of the iPhone
iPhone quarterly sales
Worldwide iPhone availability: Original iPhone was available; now 3G iPhone 3G only Available later
Development of iPhone began with Apple CEO Steve Jobs' direction that Apple engineers investigate touchscreens.[14] Apple created the device during a secretive and unprecedented collaboration with AT&T Mobility—Cingular Wireless at the time—at a development cost of US$150 million over thirty months. Apple rejected the "design by committee" approach that had yielded the Motorola ROKR E1, a largely unsuccessful collaboration with Motorola. Instead, Cingular gave Apple the liberty to develop the iPhone's hardware and software in-house. Numerous codenames and even fake prototypes were devised to keep the project secret.[15][16]
Jobs unveiled iPhone to the public on January 9, 2007 in a keynote address. Apple was required to file for operating permits with the FCC, but such filings are available to the public, so the announcement came several months before the iPhone received approval. The iPhone went on sale in the United States on June 29, 2007. Apple closed its stores at 2:00 pm local time to prepare for the 6:00 pm iPhone launch, while hundreds of customers lined up at stores nationwide.[1] On launch weekend, Apple sold 270,000 iPhones in the first thirty hours.[17] The original iPhone was made available in the UK, France, and Germany in November 2007, and Ireland and Austria in spring of 2008.
On July 11, 2008, Apple released the iPhone 3G in twenty-two countries, including the original six.[18] Forty-eight more are expected to follow in the months afterwards.[19] Apple sold 1 million iPhone 3Gs in its first 3 days on sale,[20] enough to overload Apple's United States iTunes servers.[21]
Over 3 million units were sold in the first month after the 3G launch, in a "blistering sales pace". The phenomenon of popular willingness to upgrade to the 3G so soon after purchase of an earlier model was attributed to Apple's popularity and its frequent imitators.[22] The anomalously high demand for the first-generation iPhone was reflected in free-market prices for older models that began to rise steadily within days of the 3G launch resetting the price baselines.[23]
On October 21, 2008, Apple announced sales of 6.89 million iPhone 3Gs in the fourth quarter of 2008, totaling 13 million iPhones to date.[24] iPhone sales from that quarter surpassed RIM's BlackBerry sales of 5.2 million units. By revenue, Apple is the third largest mobile phone manufacturer, after Nokia and Samsung.[25] Within Apple's fiscal fourth quarter, up to September 30, 2008, the iPhone represented 39 percent (US$4.6 billion) of the company's total quarterly revenues, although some of this income is deferred.[26]
Hardware
Size comparison, from top to bottom, between:
-a first generation iPod Nano
-a first generation iPhone
-a fourth generation iPod
Rear view of the original iPhone (left) made of aluminum and plastic, and the iPhone 3G, made completely from a hard plastic material.[27]
Specifications
Apple publishes a full description of the iPhone 3G's technical specifications.[8] Specifications for the original model were available before the release of the 3G model.[28]
Features common to both versions -
Screen size: 3.5 in (89 mm)
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Screen resolution: 480×320 pixels at 163 ppi, with 3:2 aspect ratio
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Input devices: Multi-touch screen interface plus a "Home" button and "Sleep/Wake" located on the top of the iPhone.
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Built-in rechargeable, non-removable battery
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2 megapixel camera
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Location finding by detection of cell towers and Wi-Fi networks
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Samsung ARM1176JZ(F)-S v1.0 (620 MHz underclocked to 412 MHz, 32-bit RISC;[5] PowerVR MBX 3D graphics co-processor)[29]
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Memory: 128 MB DRAM[7]
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Storage: 8 GB or 16 GB flash memory
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Operating System: iPhone OS
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Quad band GSM / GPRS / EDGE: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
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Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
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Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR
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20Hz to 20kHz frequency response (both internal and headset)
A highlighted view of the proximity and ambient light sensors on the first-generation iPhone.
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4 GB model (discontinued after two months), 8 GB model or 16 GB model
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Size: 4.5 inches (115 mm) (h) × 2.4 inches (61 mm) (w) × 0.46 inch (11. mm) (d)
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Weight: 135 g (4.8 oz)
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Battery has up to 8 hours of talk, 6 hours of Internet use, 7 hours of video playback, and up to 24 hours of audio playback, lasting over 250 hours on standby.[30]
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Headphone jack (recessed)
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Digital SAR of 0.974 W/kg[31][32]
3G model
The proximity and ambient light sensors on the iPhone 3G.
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Color: Black (8 GB or 16 GB) or white (16 GB)
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Size: 4.5 inches (115.5 mm) (h) × 2.4 inches (62.1 mm) (w) × 0.48 inch (12.3 mm) (d)
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Weight: 133 g (4.7 oz)
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Headphone jack (non-recessed)
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Battery has up to 10 hours of 2G talk, 5 hours of 3G talk, 5 (3G) or 6 (Wi-Fi) hours of Internet use, 7 hours of video playback, and up to 24 hours of audio playback, lasting over 300 hours on standby.[8]
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3G for broadband data speeds (Tri band UMTS / HSDPA: UMTS 850 / 1900 / 2100)
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Assisted GPS, with preference to location based on Wi-Fi or cell towers
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Digital SAR Rating: 1.38 W/kg
Screen and input
The 9 cm (3.5 in) liquid crystal display (320×480 px at 6.3 px/mm, 160 ppi) HVGA touchscreen with scratch-resistant glass[30] is specifically created for use with a finger, or multiple fingers for multi-touch sensing. Because the screen is a capacitive touchscreen, bare skin is required. Most gloves or a stylus prevent the necessary electrical conductivity. The screen is also capable of rendering up to 262,144 colors.[33][34][35][36]
The display responds to three sensors. A proximity sensor shuts off the display and touchscreen when the iPhone is brought near the face during a call. This is done to save battery power and to prevent inadvertent inputs from the user's face and ears. An ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness which in turn saves battery power. A 3-axis accelerometer senses the orientation of the phone and changes the screen accordingly.[37] Photo browsing, web browsing, and music playing support both upright and left or right widescreen orientations.[38] Later, a software update allowed the first generation iPhone to use cell towers and Wi-Fi networks for location finding despite lacking a hardware GPS. The iPhone 3G supplements those methods with A-GPS.
The iPhone has three physical switches on the sides: wake/sleep, volume up/down, and ringer on/off. These are made of plastic on the original iPhone and metal on the iPhone 3G. A single "home" hardware button below the display brings up the main menu. The touch screen furnishes the remainder of the user interface.
The back of the original iPhone was made of brushed metal with a black plastic accent. The iPhone 3G features a full plastic back to increase GSM signal strength.[39] The plastic is black for the 8 GB model, but the 16 GB version is also available in white.
Audio
Loudspeakers are located above the screen and the left side of the bottom of the unit; the microphone is located on the right. Volume controls are located on the left side of the unit and as a slider in the iPod application. Both speakers are used for handsfree operations and media playback.
The 3.5 mm TRRS connector for the headphones is located on the top left corner of the device.[40] The headphone socket on the original iPhone is recessed into the casing, making it incompatible with most headsets without the use of an adapter.[41][42] The iPhone 3G has a flush mounted headphone socket that eliminates the issue.
The iPhone's headphones are similar to those of most current smartphones, incorporating a microphone. A multipurpose button in the microphone can be used to play or pause music, skip tracks, and answer or end phone calls without touching the iPhone; newer versions also incorporate volume controls. A small number of third-party headsets specifically designed for the iPhone also include a microphone and control button.[43] Wireless earpieces that use Bluetooth technology to communicate with the iPhone are sold separately. They do not support stereo audio.
Composite or component video at up to 576i and stereo audio can be output from the dock connector using an adapter sold by Apple.[44] Unlike many similar phones, the iPhone requires third party software to support voice recording.
Battery
The iPhone features an internal rechargeable battery. It is not user-replaceable, similar to the batteries of existing iPods, and unlike those of most existing cellular phones.[41][45] If the battery malfunctions or dies prematurely, the phone can be returned to Apple and replaced for free while still under warranty.[46] The warranty lasts one year from purchase and is extended to two years with AppleCare. The cost of having Apple provide a new battery and replace it when the iPhone is out of warranty is slightly less than half the cost of a new 8 GB iPhone.[47]
Since July 2007 third party battery replacement kits have been available[48] at a much lower price than Apple's own battery replacement program. These kits often include a small screwdriver and an instruction leaflet, but as with many newer iPod models the battery in the original iPhone has been soldered in. Therefore a soldering iron is required to install the new battery. The iPhone 3G uses a different battery fitted with a connector, although replacing the battery oneself still voids the warranty.[49]
The original iPhone's battery was stated to be capable of providing up to seven hours of video, six hours of web browsing, eight hours of talk time, 24 hours of music or up to 250 hours on standby.[30] Apple's site says that the battery life "is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity after 400 full charge and discharge cycles",[50] which is comparable to the iPod batteries.
The iPhone 3G's battery is stated to be capable of providing up to seven hours of video, six hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi or five on 3G, ten hours of 2G talk time, or five on 3G, 24 hours of music, or 300 hours of standby.[8]
The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer advocate group, has sent a complaint to Apple and AT&T over the fee that consumers have to pay to have the battery replaced.[51] Though the battery replacement service and its pricing was not made known to buyers until the day the product was launched,[51][52] a similar service had been well established for the iPods by Apple and various third party service providers.
SIM card
See also: iPhone SIM Lock removal
The original iPhone's SIM card slot shown as open, with ejected SIM card.
The SIM card is located in a slot at the top of the device. It can be ejected with a paperclip or a tool included with the iPhone 3G.[53] In most countries, the iPhone is usually sold with a SIM lock, which prevents the iPhone from being used on different mobile networks.
Storage
The iPhone was initially released with two options for internal storage size: 4 GB or 8 GB. On September 5, 2007, Apple discontinued the 4 GB models.[54] On February 5, 2008, Apple added a 16 GB model.[55] All data is stored on an internal flash drive; the iPhone does not contain any memory card slots for expanded storage.
Included items
Both the iPhone and the iPhone 3G include (or included) written documentation, stereo earbuds with microphone, a dock connector to USB cable, and a cloth for cleaning the screen. The original iPhone also included a dock to hold the iPhone upright; it is not compatible with the iPhone 3G, for which a slightly different dock is sold separately. The iPhone 3G includes a tool to eject the SIM card; the original model required a paperclip for this purpose. Both versions include a USB power adapter, although iPhone 3Gs sold in North America, Japan, Colombia, Ecuador, or Peru[56][57] include a more compact version than those bundled with iPhone 3Gs sold elsewhere, or the original model.
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History