15 Fascinating Facts About the Apple iPhone

The iPhone, known to many as the world's first proper smartphone, was introduced by Steve Jobs in 2007. The iPhone went on to make a significant impact on the world. It instantly became a hit among the public and continues to be popular to this very day.

In the second quarter of its 2024 alone, Apple made around $46 billion U.S. dollars in revenue from the iPhone line. This makes the iPhone arguably the most successful single product in history.

Here are 15 fascinating facts you should know about the Apple iPhone:

1. The iPhone was not the first smartphone in the world. IBM's Simon, released in 1994, was the first smartphone, featuring a touchscreen, email, and a few apps.
2. In 1983, the first iPhone was designed by an Apple computer developer, Hartmut Esslinger. It was a stylus-controlled interface for a landline phone, which had many similarities to the iPhone and iPad today.
3. The letter "i" in the name of Apple devices stands for internet, which was a new concept when the iMac was introduced in 1998.
Image credit: Versus
4. The Artists icon in the Music app is a silhouette of Bono, the lead singer of U2.
5. In iPhone ads, the time shown is always 9:41 a.m. because Apple events begin at 9 a.m.
6. Despite being rivals, Samsung, the world's second-largest smartphone manufacturer, manufactures Apple's smartphone processor.
7. More than 2.2 billion iPhones had been sold as of November 1, 2018.
8. The iPhone was named "Invention of the Year" by Time Magazine in 2007.
Image credit: Computerworld
9. "Purple" was the codename for the iPhone when it was being developed, and the "Purple Dorm" was the name given to the developers' section at Apple headquarters.
10. Apple's iPhone holds 22% of the smartphone market, making it the biggest player in the market followed by Samsung and Xiaomi.
11. Antennagate, which began with the release of the iPhone 4, caused widespread problems among users and was dubbed Antennagate.
12. The Apple device and service EULA, a document that the majority of people do not read, contains approximately 18,000 words and states that Apple devices and services cannot be used to develop nuclear, missile, chemical, or biological weapons.
13. Apple was the first to allow consumers to legally download and install apps from an app store, known as the "App Store."
14. Following its successful launch, a large portion of the American media referred to the iPhone as "the Jesus Phone," and it was widely talked about and sought after.
15. In his first iPhone call, Steve Jobs pranked a nearby Starbucks by ordering 4,000 lattes.

The iPhone is more than just a phone; it has become a cultural phenomenon. Although it was not the first smartphone, it set the standard for all future smartphones. Apple's creation of the App Store revolutionized the mobile app industry, and their partnership with Samsung in manufacturing processors is an excellent example of how rivals can work together. As long as Apple continues to innovate and create fascinating products, the iPhone's popularity will continue to grow.

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Flynn Lo Faro

Team Leader / Editor-in-Chief

Flynn has been covering technology for over a decade, with a deep focus on all things Apple. As the Editor-in-Chief of Apple Scoop, Flynn ensures the team delivers the most accurate and up-to-date information on Apple news, rumors, and product releases. His passion for tech journalism and editorial expertise guide the site’s vision and maintain its high standards.

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