What Does The ‘i’ In iPhone Actually Mean? It Might Not Be What You Think

Have you ever wondered why Apple names nearly every one of their products with the letter “i”? You may think you know what the “i” means, but you may be slightly incorrect.

Back in 1998, Apple introduced the iMac, which marked the beginning of the first modern Apple product as well as the first to be named with an “i”. Since then you have had the iBook (2000), the iPod (2001), iTunes (2001), the iPhone (2007), iWork (2009), iLife (2009), the iPad (2010) and the iCloud (2011).

The ‘i’ before each of their products must mean “internet” right? Well, not exactly. The lowercase “i” in the Apple products means even more than that.

During the presentation for the launch of the iMac, Steve Jobs flaunted the then technologically advanced computer. “iMac comes from the marriage of the excitement of the Internet with the simplicity of Macintosh,” the former Apple founder said. “We are targeting this for the no. 1 use that consumers tell us they want a computer for, which is to get on the Internet simply and fast.”

Jobs also showed a slide which explained what Apple’s signature prefix actually stands for.

The “i” means “internet, individual, instruct, inform and inspire.”

After the monumental success of the iMac, Apple started branding all of their products with the now iconic “i”. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

[Mashable]