# IBM Simon

> smartphone model

**Wikidata**: [Q1321356](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1321356)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Simon)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ibm-simon

## Summary  
IBM Simon is a smartphone model that runs the ROM‑DOS operating system. It was manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric and is classified as a subclass of the broader smartphone category. The device measures 2.5 in × 8 in × 1.5 in and weighs about 18 oz.

## Key Facts  
- **Device type:** Smartphone model (instance of “smartphone model”, subclass of “smartphone”).  
- **Manufacturer:** Mitsubishi Electric (source: Wikipedia revision 936591235).  
- **Operating system:** ROM‑DOS (originally released in 1989).  
- **Physical dimensions:** Width 2.5 in, Height 8 in, Horizontal depth 1.5 in.  
- **Mass:** Approximately 18 oz.  
- **Image reference:** ![IBM Simon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/IBM_Simon_Personal_Communicator.png)  
- **Freebase identifier:** /m/094n0m (referenced 28 Oct 2013).  
- **Wikipedia presence:** Title “IBM Simon”, 20 language sitelinks (including en, es, fr, ja, etc.).  
- **Described by:** Buxton Collection (source link provided).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is IBM Simon?  
**A:** IBM Simon is a smartphone model that runs the ROM‑DOS operating system and was built by Mitsubishi Electric.  

### Q: Which operating system does IBM Simon use?  
**A:** It uses ROM‑DOS, an operating system that originated in 1989.  

### Q: Who manufactured IBM Simon?  
**A:** The device was manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric.  

### Q: What are the size and weight of IBM Simon?  
**A:** IBM Simon measures 2.5 in wide, 8 in tall, 1.5 in deep, and weighs about 18 oz.  

### Q: Where can I find an image of IBM Simon?  
**A:** A public image is available at the Wikimedia Commons link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/IBM_Simon_Personal_Communicator.png.  

## Why It Matters  
IBM Simon represents an early convergence of mobile telephony and personal computing, embodying the first generation of devices that combined a touchscreen interface with a full‑featured operating system. By running ROM‑DOS, it offered users a familiar, PC‑like environment on a handheld platform, foreshadowing the modern smartphone’s ability to run complex applications beyond voice calls. Its production by Mitsubishi Electric under IBM’s branding illustrates the collaborative engineering efforts that helped shape the mobile industry’s trajectory. Understanding IBM Simon provides insight into the technological milestones that led to today’s ubiquitous smartphones, highlighting how early hardware specifications—such as its sizable form factor and substantial weight—were balanced against the promise of integrated computing on the go.

## Notable For  
- First smartphone model documented to run ROM‑DOS, an OS dating back to 1989.  
- Manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric, linking a major Japanese electronics firm with IBM’s mobile ambitions.  
- Physical footprint (8 in tall) and weight (18 oz) illustrate the early hardware constraints of smartphone design.  
- Recognized across 20 Wikipedia language editions, reflecting broad historical interest.  
- Listed in the Buxton Collection, indicating its preservation as a notable computing artifact.  

## Body  

### Overview  
IBM Simon is classified as a **smartphone model**, a subclass of the broader **smartphone** category. It is identified on Wikidata with the description “smartphone model” and holds 20 inter‑language Wikipedia sitelinks.

### Manufacturer and Production  
- **Manufacturer:** Mitsubishi Electric.  
- The manufacturing detail is sourced from a Wikipedia revision (oldid 936591235) and corroborated by the Wikidata entry.

### Operating System  
- **OS:** ROM‑DOS.  
- ROM‑DOS was originally introduced in **1989**, providing a DOS‑compatible environment for the device.

### Physical Specifications  
| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Width | 2.5 in |
| Height | 8 in |
| Horizontal depth | 1.5 in |
| Mass | 18 oz |
| Image | ![IBM Simon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/IBM_Simon_Personal_Communicator.png) |

These dimensions highlight the relatively large and heavy form factor compared with contemporary smartphones.

### Identifiers and References  
- **Freebase ID:** `/m/094n0m` (cited 28 Oct 2013).  
- **Described by:** Buxton Collection (source URL provided).  
- **Commons category:** “IBM Simon”.  

### Cultural and Historical Context  
IBM Simon appears in multiple language versions of Wikipedia (Arabic, Azerbaijani, Catalan, English, Spanish, Finnish, French, Italian, Japanese, etc.), indicating its relevance in the history of mobile computing. Its inclusion in the Buxton Collection further underscores its status as a preserved artifact of early smartphone technology.  

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*All information presented is derived exclusively from the supplied source material.*

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013