The history of the original iPhone started with the 1995 concept model and ended with the second-generation model in late 2000. The thin-client device connected to “ServerGear”, a proxy server for rendering content before being displayed on the iPhone screen. Since the iPhone only had 3 MB of memory and accessed the internet via a dialup connection, the web pages were stripped of nonessential images and code for the custom user interface. The “internet appliance” boasted a 7.4′ grayscale touchscreen, email, electronic “rolodex” and telephone functions. The device made it into a retail stores around the world and became the signature product for a multi-level marketing company in Provo, Utah (Big Planet). New Zealand (Telepoz and Dicks Electronics), South Africa (Radiospoor), United States (Compusa) and Australia (ION Australia) placed early bets with ServerGear network deployments. This meant installing servers across several networks to handle the wave of iPhone users willing to plunk down $400 either directly or through an ISP contract (infoGear sold and gave away less than 70,000+ units). The iPhone won innovation awards at CES and caught Cisco System’s attention in 1999 with an investment and board seat.

InfoGear was acquired for $301M in 2000. In the middle of the acquisition, the “dot bomb” for tech stocks was in full swing and companies were losing major market value (it’s a miracle the acquisition went through).

[iPhone Videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G_72J-Zv90&list=PLdaPCgScQDFsFQtS6cUP2Q4PdD0G2nCUs&index=1)