Talk:IBM Simon

Lots of isheeps around here...
Face it, this was the first smartphone! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.245.189.166 (talk) 01:43, 23 November 2017 (UTC)

Was it sold using the term "smartphone"?
I'd like to know whether this phone was sold by IBM using the specific term "smartphone"?-- Lester  06:26, 29 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I do not believe so. From what I can find, the term had been retroactively applied.  Movementarian  (talk)  23:21, 30 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I'll remove the description from this article, then, as a smartphone describes a phone as being a software platform, rather than being sold on individual features.-- Lester  23:39, 30 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I'll not argue, but there are sources that credit the Simon as being the first "smartphone". Movementarian  (talk)  02:54, 1 July 2010 (UTC)
 * epic — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.25.99.223 (talk) 20:36, 6 January 2012 (UTC)
 * The article also lists this device as the world's first smartphone. Of course, the term is very ill-defined - but it certainly qualifies as one that was a high end mobile device, and one that combined phone with computing functions. It even had a touchscreen! The fact that we didn't use the term back them shouldn't matter - this is an encyclopedia, and it's perfectly fine to describe past events in modern language. "Advanced cellular telephone" is a very old fashioned convoluted term that means the same thing as "smartphone". Though I have no objection if someone wants to add that the term "smartphone" didn't come about until later. Mdwh (talk) 23:07, 16 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I've also added refs. Mdwh (talk) 23:12, 16 January 2012 (UTC)
 * This is totally bogus. Nobody was using the term until 1997;  I remember when the IBM Simon came out.  It was a freaking weapon, not a "smartphone".  Further, I will suggest that any source referring to the IBM Simon as the first "smartphone", either doesn't know what a smartphone is, or is misusing the term. Viriditas (talk) 02:47, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Unreferenced information
The following information has been moved to the talk page because a brief search did not turn up supporting references:
 * "...and used file compression software to minimize memory cost. To avoid a C: prompt IBM wrote all of the user interface software, dubbed internally as the "Navigator". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.212.81.46 (talk) 17:02, 4 July 2012 (UTC)
 * I am personally knowledgable about the Simon design and know this statement is true, however I have to admit I'm not aware of a reference. I would encourage the community to look for supporting references so this can be moved back to the article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.212.208.14 (talk) 22:52, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Form factor
The summary box at the top of this page declares its "form factor" as a "brick" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_form_factors has this phone as a "touchscreen" as opposed to a "brick" Which is it? The two pages are inconsistent, so one should be changed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by FutureKingMark (talk • contribs) 14:53, 25 November 2013 (UTC)
 * It was a brick. The use of the term "touchscreen" in incorrect to describe any form factor. "Slate" is accurate for current smartphones. "Touchscreen" is a feature, not a form factor. The other article should use slate exclusively, not slate/touchscreen. Woz2 (talk) 13:09, 28 April 2014 (UTC)

External links modified
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 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://dux.typepad.com/dux/2011/07/are-you-an-innovation-giant-.html
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 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/bibuxton/buxtoncollection/a/pdf/Simon%20User%20Manuals.pdf
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/bibuxton/buxtoncollection/detail.aspx?id=40
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.chi2011.org/program/buxtoncollection.pdf

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In popular culture
A IBM Simon is seen in For All Mankind, Season 2. By Tracy Stevens https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/television/stars-of-for-all-mankind-play-characters-in-the-1980s-but-not-our-1980s Picture ! or is it a different cell ?--Brownshoes22 (talk) 03:54, 13 July 2021 (UTC)

Simon's demise
The article suggests that the 1 hour talk time was Simon's demise, but as a Technical spokesperson for BellSouth Cellular during Simon's launch, that was only 1 of 3 problems with Simon.


 * 1) 2 was it's weight.  It was too heavy to hold in one's hand for an hour.


 * 1) 3 was lack of a car charger.  Remember that in those days they were referenced as "car" phones; people were for the most part, still tethered. 98.96.72.85 (talk) 23:34, 28 August 2023 (UTC)