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Did you know that the iPhone wasn’t Apple’s first step into the wireless world? They had several devices that were designed for mobile communications.

First up was Newton. The Newton was originally conceived as a wireless communicator using RISC chips from AT&T ironically and designed for the RadioMail wireless system. Although the whole Apple branded wireless handheld never saw the light of day, Motorola licensed the Newton technology to make the Marco. Apple later provided the option to add a wireless radio card to all Newton handhelds to receive wireless email via RadioMail.

Apple’s other attempt in jumping in the wireless world was with the PowerBop computer (Yes, PowerBop – named after the network technology). The BOP network (deployed in France) was supposed to provide voice, internet and network access to all French Telecom customers. Apple retrofitted a PowerBook 100 series with an wireless radio and antenna system stuffed where the floppy drive used to be. Unfortunately, the PowerBop never left the working prototype phase since networks in Paris failed. The BOP service (9,600bps) was VERY expensive, hard to deploy and extremely inefficient in handing off data connections from one antenna to another.