July 11, 2008

iPhone 3G released

Apple began selling the iPhoneApple's smartphone line — touch-first mobile computing and the App Store ecosystem since 2007. 3G on July 11, 2008 — adding 3G cellular data and launching in 22 countries alongside the App StoreApple's marketplace for iOS apps — centralized distribution and in-app purchases on iPhone..

What it was for

IPhone 3GThe iPhoneApple's smartphone line — touch-first mobile computing and the App Store ecosystem since 2007. 3G made mobile broadband practical — web apps and native App StoreApple's marketplace for iOS apps — centralized distribution and in-app purchases on iPhone. downloads over cellular replaced EDGE trickle speeds. GPS enabled location-based services developers still build on. The simultaneous App StoreApple's marketplace for iOS apps — centralized distribution and in-app purchases on iPhone. launch turned the 3G into the first iPhoneApple's smartphone line — touch-first mobile computing and the App Store ecosystem since 2007. that was both fast on the network and open to third-party software at scale.

Companies

  • Apple

Why it's here

The iPhoneApple's smartphone line — touch-first mobile computing and the App Store ecosystem since 2007. 3G paired 3G networking with the App StoreApple's marketplace for iOS apps — centralized distribution and in-app purchases on iPhone.'s global rollout.

Why it mattered

It made mobile web and app experiences viable over cellular, not just Wi-Fi.

What it solved

The original iPhoneApple's smartphone line — touch-first mobile computing and the App Store ecosystem since 2007.'s EDGE network was too slow for rich mobile web and app downloads.

Media

  • IPhone 3G
    ImageIPhone 3G

    JoBot164, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

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