June 29
Apple Releases the First iPhone
Apple's sleek multi-touch device merged phone, music player, and internet communicator into one groundbreaking product that sold out on its U.S. debut.
Summary
In the mid-2000s, mobile phones primarily handled calls, texts, and basic media while personal digital assistants offered limited computing. Apple, under Steve Jobs, sought to merge phone, music player, and internet device into a single intuitive product. On June 29, 2007, the company launched the original iPhone in the United States with a multi-touch interface, full web browser, and app ecosystem foundation. Priced at $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for 8GB, it sold out quickly despite limited initial features like no third-party apps or copy-paste. The device reshaped consumer expectations for smartphones almost immediately.
Context
By the mid-2000s, cellular phones had added cameras, basic media playback, and limited web access, yet most relied on physical keypads and modest screens that constrained usability. Personal digital assistants provided greater computing capability but operated largely apart from cellular networks. Apple, fresh from success with the iPod, identified an opportunity to converge these functions into a single, elegant handheld.
What Happened
On January 9, 2007, CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone during his Macworld keynote in San Francisco, describing it as three devices in one: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communicator. Development had involved a close, secretive partnership with Cingular Wireless, soon to become AT&T, after Apple rejected carrier-imposed restrictions that had limited earlier efforts such as the Motorola ROKR.
The device reached stores on June 29, 2007. Apple retail locations nationwide remained open until midnight, while select AT&T outlets also participated. Customers could buy up to two units on a first-come, first-served basis, each requiring a two-year service contract. The 4 GB model carried a $499 price tag and the 8 GB version $599; both featured a 3.5-inch multi-touch display running a custom iPhone OS with the Safari browser, visual voicemail, and Google and Yahoo search integration.
Aftermath
Initial demand exceeded supply, with reports of strong first-day sales that quickly depleted available stock. Apple followed with software updates that added features over the ensuing months. The exclusive U.S. carrier arrangement with AT&T drew attention from competitors and regulators alike.
Legacy
The original iPhone established the template for modern smartphones by popularizing capacitive multi-touch interfaces, full web browsing on mobile devices, and an app-driven software ecosystem that launched formally with the App Store in 2008. Its influence extended to design standards, user expectations, and entire industries built around mobile applications and services that continue to shape global technology.
Why It Matters
The iPhone accelerated the shift to touchscreen smartphones and app-driven economies, influencing competitors and creating new industries around mobile software. It set standards for user interface design and connectivity that persist in modern devices worldwide.
Related Questions
How much did the original iPhone cost?
The 4 GB model sold for $499 and the 8 GB model for $599, each requiring a two-year AT&T contract.
What made the first iPhone different from other phones at the time?
It introduced a large multi-touch screen, a full desktop-class web browser, and combined phone, iPod, and internet functions without a physical keyboard.
Where was the iPhone first available?
It launched exclusively in the United States on June 29, 2007, through Apple stores and AT&T retail outlets.
Did the original iPhone support third-party apps?
No; native third-party applications arrived only with the App Store in July 2008.
Who designed the hardware of the first iPhone?
Apple's industrial design team, led by Jonathan Ive, created its distinctive minimalist form.
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America 250 Atlas: Apple Releases the First iPhone is part of U.S. presidential, constitutional, or national civic history.
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Sources
- What Happened on June 29 | HISTORY, A&E Television Networks. Accessed 2026-07-12.
- On This Day in History – June 29 | timeanddate.com, Time and Date AS. Accessed 2026-07-12.