Did you know that Apple considered calling the first iPhone the ‘Mobi’, the ‘TriPod’, the ‘TelePod’, and the ‘iPad’?
This is according to a report from 9to5Mac. The site’s Scott Buscemi was at a University of Arizona’s Department of Marketing event, where Ken Segall, former Apple advertising lead, revealed what the Cupertino firm was considering calling the first iPhone.
According to the report, ““Telepod:” According to Segall, Apple considered calling the device “Telepod” because it sounded like a futuristic twist to the word “telephone.” The “pod” part of the name also makes sense in context of Apple’s then-extraordinarily-popular iPod line of music players. Perhaps this name would have made more sense if Tony Fadell’s “iPod-phone” project beat out Scott Forstall’s OSX/iOS work.
““Mobi“: According to Segall, this potential name is a play on the word “mobile.” The shortened version of “Mobile” seems to be a creative name with a personality, according to Segall.
““Tripod:” While this name did not win out, it did make a big impact on Apple’s original presentation and marketing for the iPhone. “Tripod” stems from the iPhone being a combination phone + iPod + internet communications device. Indeed, Apple heavily marketed the original iPhone as such. As we know today, with the App Store and other new Apple apps, the iPhone platform is so much more than just a phone, internet communicator, and media player.
““iPad:” While the iPad ended up being the name for Apple’s tablet computer, that name was also under consideration for the smartphone. As the iPhone has much of the same functionality as the iPad that we know today, that name may have been sensible. This name also makes sense in terms of Apple’s iOS device development process: Steve Jobs previously revealed that Apple worked on the tablet before the phone, but ended up prioritizing the iPhone in its long-term product roadmap.
“You will see “MicroMac” on the photo of the slide above, but Segall says that he made up that name specifically for this presentation in order to gauge the thoughts of the crowd. It was never a name under consideration.”
Do you prefer any of these monikers, or are you happy Apple decided to name its smartphone the iPhone? Share your thoughts through a comment on our Facebook page.
