Today in history, on January 9, 2007, Apple announced the first iPhone at the MacWorld Conference in San Francisco. CEO Steve Jobs presented the company’s first smartphone as a “revolutionary and magical product.” The iPhone had secretly been in production for years, though most consumers guessed what the announcement would be.

Jobs pitched the iPhone as a three-in-one device: a large touchscreen iPod, a fully featured mobile phone, and an innovative Internet communications device. It was the first phone to use only a touchscreen without a stylus, mouse, or keyboard. Apple developed an advanced multi-touch interface to allow for gestures like pinch-to-zoom. Users could easily integrate their new phones with their existing Apple products, like iTunes and Safari.

While the new smartphone was mostly met with enthusiasm for its design and tech capabilities, there were initial concerns about durability, price, and the camera. The iPhone would be released on June 29, 2007, at $499 for a 4GB model and $599 for an 8GB model. It was only available on AT&T and required a two-year contract. Thousands of people lined up outside AT&T stores, and many ran out of stock within an hour.

The popularity of Apple’s new phone set the stage for both copycats and innovators in the market. Its biggest competitors were LG, Samsung, Nokia, Palm, and Blackberry. Today, you can find a vast range of smartphones, although the iPhone is still one of the most popular. It’s currently on generation 16.