Was iPhone The First Smartphone To Have...?

[Jellotime91]

So this thread is basically just for asking questions about the iPhone.. I personally just wanted to know (since google doesn't show anything about it).. Was iPhone the first mobile phone to use a capacitive touch screen? I know that the LG Prada was the first all-touch phone released just a few months before the iPhone, but was the iPhone THE first to use a capacitive screen?

I also wanted to know, did the App Store bring the first time on any mobile smartphone platform that the user could access a database of all available applications on the device and buy/install over cellular and WiFi networks?

Was the iPhone the first mobile phone with a glass screen?

[Alli]

Yes, yes, and no.

[Jellotime91]

Thanks, do you know which phone was the first with a glass screen? I saw some after the iPhone like the LG Secret but I don't remember any before the iPhone.

[rijc99]

On device app stores have been on phones for a while. Apple's app store is the first one to be sponsored by the OS maker.

Handango, Sprint WM store, etc.

[Alli]

Lots of app stores, but none that allowed you to update products on the device. Apple's app store is truly revolutionary.

Not sure what the first one was, but the entire Treo line had resistive touch glass screens. It would be a great question to submit to Mickey Papillon. He could answer all those questions for you - just drop him an email, or leave a voice message on his show line and then listen to his next podcast.

[Jellotime91]

I didn't know resistive screens could be glass.

[Alli]

What did you think they were made of...jell-o?

[angelsniper45]

Yup! unless you count the N85 or N-gage as a smartphone then yes iphone was my first and im never going back! im lovin it!

[Jellotime91]

@Alli, most (and what I thought was all) resistive screens are plastic. Resistive touch is 2 sheets of plastic pressing together so I didn't know that was possible with glass

[Alli]

Take a look at any Palm. They are very much glass. I can't think of a single actual WinPho that isn't glass. But again, your best bet is still to ask Mickey. I'd ask him for you, but then I'd have to take notes and get back to you - better to ask him yourself. I don't believe there's anyone out there who will deny he is the expert.