The tech company IBM is widely credited with developing the world’s first smartphone – the bulky but cutely named Simon. It went on sale in 1994 and featured a touchscreen, email capability, and a handful of built-in apps, including a calculator and a sketch pad. Despite this, Simon suffered from several issues, such as reportedly having a battery life of just one hour. Ultimately, Simon fell victim to the relentless march of technology, which saw the advent of the flip phone in the mid-1990s, the dominance of Nokia throughout the early part of the 21st century, and the emergence of internet-enabled phones akin to the smartphones of today.

Source: We Forum