Many people use iPhones and other Apple products, but not everyone knows the significance of the letter “i” in the name iPhone.
Even if you don’t own an iPhone, you probably know at least one person who does. The iPhone made a splash worldwide when it launched in 2007, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. However, not many people are aware of what the “i” in iPhone actually stands for.
Your first guess might be “Internet”, given the iPhone’s famous claim as a phone with powerful web access. Or you might think it represents “I” as in the English pronoun “I”—since the iPhone allows you to personalize your smartphone with the apps and features you choose.
The meaning of the letter “i” in the name iPhone. (Illustrative image).
But you might be surprised to learn that the letter “i” in iPhone stands for not just one word, but five.
In fact, the first product to feature the lowercase “i” was the iMac, released in 1998. At that time, even computers with internet access were quite rare. Therefore, the letter “i” originally stood for internet, highlighting the revolutionary internet capabilities of the Mac.
Before Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. The 1998 iMac was essentially the device that saved Apple. Jobs described the iMac as an innovative personal computer designed for easy internet access.
While the iMac was in development, Jobs initially wanted to call it “MacMan”, similar to the popular terms “Walkman” and “Pac-Man” at the time. However, Ken Segall, a collaborator from an advertising agency, suggested the name “iMac”.
When the first iMac was launched, the letter “i” also conveyed several meanings. When Steve Jobs introduced the iMac, he suggested that “i” represented “internet”, “individual”—personal, “instruct”—to guide, “inform”—to notify, “inspire”—to inspire. However, Jobs also mentioned that the “i” did not have an official meaning.
Moreover, while the letter “i” started with the meaning of “internet”, and the fact that internet access was the biggest feature of the iPhone when it launched in 2007, some Apple products with the “i” designation didn’t even have internet access (like the first-generation iPod). Therefore, the “i” does not represent a single abbreviated word but has become a memorable brand identifier, arguably iconic for the brand.
