The iPhone is a from the family of the Internet appliances that are enabling web access on the move. Like many other complex systems, iPhone is the result of converging and enabling web collaborative technologies. There are many patents dating back as far as the 1960s.

The trend was set in by Infogear in 1998 when they combined the features of a regular phone and a web terminal. The company was later purchased by Cisco and no new products were marketed under the name between 2001 and 2006. This was followed by Apple iPhone now we are so familiar with. Apple iPhone is an Internet connected multimedia smart phone with a flush multi-touch screen and a minimal hardware interface. Lacking a physical keyboard, a virtual keyboard is rendered on the touch screen. The iPhone's functions include those of a camera phone and portable media player (equivalent to the iPod) in addition to text messaging and visual voicemail. It also offers Internet services including e-mail, web browsing, and local Wi-Fi connectivity.

Apple announced the iPhone on 9 January 2007 and it was fist introduced in the United States on 29 June 2007 and is in the process of being introduced worldwide. On 11 July 2008, the iPhone 3G was released that is supported by faster 3G data speeds and Assisted GPS. iPhone was named Time magazine's Invention of the Year in 2007. Trend watchers say it is going a long way in the future. I say the future is now.