TechTree Blog: The First "iPhone" Landline telephone with touchscreen interface designed by Apple in 1983

The iPhone has achieved an iconic status and following within five years of its launch. However, do you know thatApple actually made its first "iPhone" way back in 1983?Since the mainstream adoption of mobiles was more than a decade away, this was unsurprisingly a landline. That being said, it still sported the hallmark features that set Apple devices apart from the rest of the pack.

The phone we are talking about was designed by Hartmut Esslinger, who would go on to design the Apple IIc - the company's first portable computer - as well. Just like the iDevices, this communication device was set in an all-white body with a stylus-controlled touchscreen. The device still appears futuristic, so we can only surmise how wondrous it would have appeared in 1983, had it been launched.

This new information about the secret history of Apple devices has come to light fromStanford University's treasure trove of Apple documents. The university has recently started allowing public access to its private collection, so many more secrets will surely unfold in days to come. The images are a part of the donation made to the university by Steve Jobsafter he rejoined the company in 1997. Take a look at the pictures below to marvel at how Apple's design team had been ahead of the curve back then as well.

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