IBM Simon - anyone here owns one? (PIC)

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#1 Post by **gator** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:52 am

Came across this very interesting article today:
http://cdecas.free.fr/computers/pocket/simon.php

Apparently IBM Simon was the first smartphone ever marketed - it was a joint venture between Big Blue and BellSouth. I was surprised to learn this, since I always thought Palm released the first PDA (and later smartphones).

Does anyone here own this piece of IBM history?

Website · #2 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:24 am

WOW...that's kewl. I just checked eBay and of course there weren't any...

#3 Post by **gator** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:01 pm

There is one on ebay!

ebay item # 280199232925

Website · #4 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:00 pm

gator wrote:There is one on ebay!

ebay item # 280199232925

And ironically in the same town that you are in!?!?

#5 Post by **gator** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:53 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote: And ironically in the same town that you are in!?!?

I want this just for bragging rights

Brad · #6 Post by **Brad** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:04 pm

Go for it Sri!

Brad

#7 Post by **gator** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:59 am

dang someone else got it ... it was too expensive for me anyway.

edit: today seems to be one of those so called lucky days ... I found one more!

ebay item #360022757386

ajkula66 · #8 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:04 am

Now this one looks really good...too bad there's no charger...what type of network would this accept, anyway?

#9 Post by **gator** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:05 am

ajkula66 wrote:Now this one looks really good...too bad there's no charger...what type of network would this accept, anyway?

No idea George ... what kind of network did Bellsouth have in 1994?

ajkula66 · #10 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:10 am

You're asking the wrong person since I haven't even lived around here at the time, and my knowledge of Bell South is very limited as well...a very wild guess would be TDMA or whatever preceded it...

#11 Post by **gator** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:23 am

Wikipedia says it is one of "GSM, IS-136 (TDMA), iDEN and IS-95 (CDMA)":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_mobile_phones

I know next-to-nothing about cellphones (having never owned one), so please with me for this stupid question: If you buy a cellphone as old as this, what are the chances that it will be compatible with today's networks? None, right?

jamiphar · #12 Post by **jamiphar** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:27 am

I don't know too much about the qualifications, but I believe as of a couple years ago all cell phones are required to be E911 compatible.

I doubt that this has that standard, but then again...

ajkula66 · #13 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:31 am

It would actually depend on the network...

CDMA is Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Qwest and Alltel...probably some others.

TDMA is no longer in use, was used by AT&T prior to merger with Cingular. May still be used by some "prepaid" phones.

GSM is T-Mobile, AT&T/Cingular and most of Europe...

iDEN is Nextel...

Given some minimal research that I've just done, I'd say that this is probably a TDMA phone, but would like for someone to actually confirm it. If that's the case, it is useless. Any other network type could probably be put to use, although it might require knowing the right people...

#14 Post by **gator** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:33 am

PW, wat I meant to ask is this: In case this is GSM phone, if I pop in a sim today, what are the chances it will work?

edit: thanks for the explanation George.

ajkula66 · #15 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:36 am

If it is a GSM phone, and you popped in the correct card (whoever inherited Bell South, which is likely AT&T) it should work...worst case scenario it might have to be unlocked.

#16 Post by **gator** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:43 am

Well, some simple googling tells me that the IBM simon is based on the U.S. analog cellular system (AMPS, 800 Mhz) standard.

sources:
http://www.privateline.com/Switching/gilder2.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... i_14297997

This wiki page has more details about AMPS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_M ... one_System

There is SO much to learn!

ajkula66 · #17 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:47 am

I can tell you that AMPS has been dead and buried a long time ago...

#18 Post by **gator** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:05 am

Found the best page on the net about this device:
http://www.byte.com/art/9412/sec11/art3.htm

Tnterestingly, this device has a PCMCIA type two slot and a touchscreen feature for the LCD:

.. it has an all-points-addressable touch overlay that you can electronically write on with either the included stylus or your finger.

I really must go to sleep now ...

Website · #19 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:47 am

Well Sri, I assume that psrivatsan is you...congrats! Please let us know how you like it!

#20 Post by **gator** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:49 am

tfflivemb2 wrote:Well Sri, I assume that psrivatsan is you...congrats! Please let us know how you like it!

How I wish! My ebay id is 'psrivats' with one purchase till date

pianowizard · #21 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:56 am

gator wrote:I know next-to-nothing about cellphones (having never owned one)

I can't believe that someone your age has never owned a cell phone! Get a smartphone and you can access the internet wherever you go. I have the Palm Centro with a very affordable plan (only $36 per month including all the taxes and fees) and I no longer need an internet service provider at home.

#22 Post by **gator** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:18 am

pianowizard wrote: I can't believe that someone your age has never owned a cell phone!

Well, I haven't had the need for one till date. I have a VOIP landline (with great ISD rates) at home and a number for the lab where someone can reach me ... most of my communication is via email anyway. I pay $20 for my landline (free calls within the US anytime anywhere any network) and my ISD calls come to ~$10. I don't think any cellphone plan will beat that!

Website · #23 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:04 pm

gator wrote:
tfflivemb2 wrote:Well Sri, I assume that psrivatsan is you...congrats! Please let us know how you like it!
How I wish! My ebay id is 'psrivats' with one purchase till date

So, someone with a userID VERY similar to yours won it?!? The ID that one was almost identical to yours except that they had an "an" at the end of the ID. Interesting and ironic.

Also, I see that the second one that you linked to just sold for $100 plus shipping.

qviri · #24 Post by **qviri** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:59 pm

syedj · #25 Post by **syedj** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:13 pm

Since this is already OT and less fear of hijacking the thread and speaking of eBay IDs... Last year in June Sri and I were bidding on each other's items on eBay not knowing who the seller was until one of us asked a question to the other the whole situation dawned on us.

George is right, old analog AMPS and TDMA are officially dead now with all the old phone towers and networks either already shutdown or will soon be literally in a matter of days.

SaberX · #26 Post by **SaberX** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:10 pm

Heres a newer "Thinkpad" style cell phone.
http://www.intomobile.com/2007/08/09/le ... phone.html

Website · #27 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:22 pm

SaberX wrote:Heres a newer "Thinkpad" style cell phone.
http://www.intomobile.com/2007/08/09/le ... phone.html

Ooooohhhh....Stevie likes!!

Lryancr · #28 Post by **Lryancr** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 5:34 pm

I found one!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230700130569?ss ... 1018wt_106

Wow, you should take a look at that!

I haven't seen one like this in forever. Should I buy?

Brian10161 · #29 Post by **Brian10161** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 6:06 pm

Cool, get enough of them and you could build a house

Lryancr · #30 Post by **Lryancr** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:24 pm

Who bid on it?!?!

IBM Simon - anyone here owns one? (PIC)

IBM Simon - anyone here owns one? (PIC)

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