The Secret History of the First Smartphone

When it comes to cellphones, everyone knows that Apple and Android are the two biggest names today. But how did the industry start and how did these devices evolve to where they are today?

The Verge produced a documentary covering Handspring, a late 90s startup determined to make mobile phones more than just a device with which to call your loved ones. It’s a story that very few have heard, but that left a mark on the mobile phone industry that none of us will ever forget. Click on the YouTube link above to watch the documentary. Read The Verge article.

But did you know…

Local Santa Cruzian Ed Colligan was the one of the founders of Handspring. Yup. And after Handspring, he went on to become CEO of Palm, one of the first smartphones. So naturally, we asked Ed for his vision on the future of smartphones.

“It’s likely smartphones will continue to get faster with 5G and pack more memory, but their form factor will remain somewhat the same because the design is pretty optimal. The big change will be that more and more of the functions will become wearable, and for some people, may replace the existing smartphone with glasses or contacts or watches or all of the above. In essence, the smartphone is currently an extension of your brain and, like it or not, it will probably get more and more integrated.” - Ed Colligan

Jeffrey Hawkins and Ed Colligan, 1996 Palm Pilot launch.

Donna Dubinsky, Jeff Hawkins, and Ed Colligan, the Treo Trio at a conference in 2007.