You can trace the iphone back to, concretely, the newton but even further back if you check out the concepts that got them to the newton. There is a 1997 book called 'Apple Design 1997 The Work of the Apple Industrial Design Group' that shows a ton of concepts and a few 'communication device' concepts (video and audio phone integrated computers). Sadly out of print, and quite expensive for a paperback 'coffee table' style book https://www.amazon.com/Appledesign-Apple-Industrial-Design-G...

Some pictures from inside, including one concept integrated with a telephone handset: https://twitter.com/jamesthomson/status/798542140435480576

Oooo that's good info, thanks! I seem to recall reading it somewhere, perhaps as context after the publication of AppleDesign: https://www.amazon.com/Appledesign-Apple-Industrial-Design-G...

Really appreciate your correction here!