This page documents the global recognition, media coverage, and historical validation of the Odin Smartphone and its inventor, Rob Lowe — including his confirmed invention of Airplane Mode. It provides credible, third-party validation and public milestones that mark Odin’s place in mobile history.
Here is a brief summary of Odin’s overlooked historical role and Rob Lowe’s authorship — now gaining public and institutional recognition.
This page brings together the growing body of global recognition, media coverage, and institutional validation surrounding the Odin Smartphone — the world’s first true smartphone — and its inventor, Rob Lowe.
For over two decades, the story of Odin remained largely untold, overshadowed by devices that came years later. But today, thanks to newly uncovered evidence and confirmed archival records, Odin is being rightfully recognised as the technological breakthrough that changed mobile communication forever.
This section highlights the public rediscovery of Odin’s place in history, with a special focus on Rob Lowe’s invention of Airplane Mode — a now-universal safety and wellbeing feature, first coined and documented by Lowe on 27 February 2001, and formally verified by Merriam-Webster.
You’ll find here a curated record of:
- Major media mentions and press features
- Public recognition from museums, researchers, and historians
- Social and industry reaction to the Odin archive
- And the growing acknowledgment that the smartphone revolution quietly began with Rob Lowe’s vision — not Silicon Valley’s
Each entry, article, and citation on this page is underpinned by hard, dated evidence: notebooks, blueprints, working systems, and testimony from the original development teams. This is not revisionist history — it’s the overdue recognition of the original invention.
1. Introduction: Rediscovering the True First Smartphone
In the early 2000s, long before the iPhone, Android, or even BlackBerry had reached the mass market, a team of engineers led by Rob Lowe quietly built a device that would define the future. It was called Odin — and it was the first true smartphone.
With a full-colour touchscreen, wireless internet, downloadable apps, Bluetooth, video playback, and an operating system based on Symbian, Odin wasn’t a concept or prototype — it was a fully functioning, ready-to-ship product that combined mobile telephony with digital intelligence. And it was years ahead of its time.
But the world didn’t hear the Odin story. Not then.
Instead, it disappeared into corporate history. Its breakthroughs — including Airplane Mode, cloud-style sync, and GPRS internet integration — quietly influenced an entire generation of smartphones that followed. No credit was given, and no headlines were written.
Until now.
Thanks to the survival of Rob Lowe’s original 115-page handwritten notebook archive, the Odin Smartphone’s place in history has been restored. The archive — now held at The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC), Bletchley Park — proves Odin’s development in detail, including the first documented use of the term “Airplane Mode” on 27 February 2001.
This section of the site celebrates how Odin and Rob Lowe are now being recognised in the media, by historians, and by the public, with increasing interest from journalists, museums, academics, and mobile industry veterans who now understand what was truly achieved.
“It’s not that Odin failed — it’s that the world wasn’t ready for what it had already built.”
The first smartphone has been found. And it was British.
2. The Airplane Mode Revelation
Airplane Mode is one of the most recognisable and widely used functions on digital devices today — from smartphones and tablets to laptops and smartwatches. It is activated billions of times per day, worldwide.
But few people know where it came from — or who invented it.
That changed when it was revealed that Rob Lowe, during the development of the Odin Smartphone, coined the term “Airplane Mode” in a handwritten notebook entry dated 27 February 2001. At the time, Lowe was leading the Odin project as both Programme Director and Senior Project Engineer, working at the intersection of software, hardware, and user interface design.
The Original Entry
In a section discussing connectivity and user control, Rob Lowe wrote:
“Airplane Mode — disables all radios (GSM/Bluetooth) while allowing use of PDA functions”
This was not a casual note. It was part of a deliberate design decision to support air travel compliance, safety standards, and battery conservation — years before regulators mandated such features or other smartphone brands introduced it.
Officially Recognised by Merriam-Webster
Following a review of the original, dated notebook entry and supporting documentation from The National Museum of Computing, Merriam-Webster — the authoritative US dictionary — formally updated its entry for “Airplane Mode” to reflect Rob Lowe’s 2001 authorship as the earliest known usage.
This marked the first time the invention of a modern digital feature had been traced back so precisely — to a named individual, a dated document, and a physical archive.
The Global Impact
- Airplane Mode is now a mandatory inclusion on mobile devices sold worldwide
- It plays a vital role in:
- Aviation safety
- Digital wellbeing and disconnection
- Power and bandwidth management
- Rob Lowe’s term is now part of daily global vocabulary, in every major language
“The irony is that the most widely used smartphone feature in the world didn’t come from Apple, Samsung, or Google — it came from a ballpoint pen in a blue notebook.”
The invention of Airplane Mode, like the Odin Smartphone itself, is no longer a mystery. It has a date. It has an inventor. And it’s now part of verified computing history.
3. Press Coverage & Media
As the story of the Odin Smartphone and Rob Lowe’s invention of Airplane Mode has re-emerged, media interest has followed — from tech historians and journalists to museums, IP professionals, and mobile veterans.
The recognition is no longer speculative. It is grounded in verifiable evidence, authenticated documents, and a growing public appetite to understand who really built the world’s first smartphone — and how it quietly shaped the global tech landscape we now live in.
Featured Highlights
While a full press archive is in progress, key features and mentions already include:
- Merriam-Webster → confirmed Rob Lowe’s 2001 authorship of the term “Airplane Mode”
- The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) → accepted the Odin Archive as a historical artefact
- LinkedIn and Tech Industry Blogs → ongoing commentary from telecom veterans, product designers, and software engineers reflecting on Odin’s place in history
- Interviews and Presentations (pending or proposed) → with Rob Lowe discussing the project’s rediscovery and legacy
Media Assets for Use
To support further coverage and partner outreach, a Media Kit is being prepared, which will include:
- High-resolution images of Odin concept sketches, UI screens, and original notes
- A digital copy of Rob Lowe’s 27 Feb 2001 Airplane Mode entry
- Summary of licensing and brand enquiries to date
- Audio/video interview excerpts (TBC)
This section will continue to grow as Odin’s legacy gains momentum. If you are a journalist, editor, or researcher interested in the story — or looking to interview Rob Lowe — you can contact the archive team via the press@airplanemodeip.com address.
4. Academic & Museum Recognition
The rediscovery of the Odin Smartphone — and the verified authorship of Airplane Mode by Rob Lowe — is not only capturing media attention, but also receiving growing acknowledgement from academic institutions, historians, and one of the world’s most respected computing museums.
This is a rare instance where the original notebooks, blueprints, and documents from a major technological breakthrough have survived intact — and can be studied, displayed, and cited by researchers and the public alike.
Preserved at The National Museum of Computing (Bletchley Park)
The full Odin archive, including Rob Lowe’s handwritten notes and supporting documentation, is now safely held at TNMOC, the UK’s premier digital computing museum.
- TNMOC is located on the historic site of Bletchley Park, where early computing pioneers like Alan Turing helped shape the modern world
- It houses working reconstructions of the Colossus and Bombe, and now the Odin Archive
- This ensures permanent, institutional preservation of Rob Lowe’s work as the inventor of the first smartphone and the originator of Airplane Mode
Cited in Academic and Historical Work
- The Odin Archive is being reviewed by mobile computing historians, tech educators, and UX researchers
- It is being prepared for inclusion in:
- Lectures and university modules on smartphone history
- Academic publications on mobile UX, calm-tech, and wireless technology
- Case studies in intellectual property and invention recognition
A New Historical Narrative
For decades, smartphone history focused almost entirely on Apple, BlackBerry, and Google. But the Odin Archive has reshaped that narrative, revealing that:
- The first true smartphone was built in Britain
- Its features and architecture predated competitors by years
- Its innovation was captured live, by its lead inventor — a rare phenomenon in tech history
“It’s like discovering the original drawings of the Concorde or the Apollo module — except this time, it fits in your pocket.”
— UK Computing Archivist
This growing academic and institutional recognition helps ensure that Rob Lowe’s contributions are no longer hidden, and that Odin’s place in mobile history is secure — not just in headlines, but in scholarship.
5. Social & Industry Impact
The rediscovery of the Odin Smartphone and the verified authorship of Airplane Mode by Rob Lowe has sparked far more than curiosity — it has triggered a growing ripple across the global tech community, from veteran engineers and product designers to mobile historians and digital wellbeing advocates.
This is not just about the past. Odin’s legacy is now influencing conversations about technology’s future, recognition of innovation, and the power of documented invention.
A Feature Used Billions of Times a Day
- Airplane Mode, coined and specified by Rob Lowe in 2001, is now:
- Activated billions of times daily across smartphones, laptops, tablets, and wearables
- Mandatory in aviation safety protocols
- Used by wellness professionals to encourage screen disconnection and mindful tech habits
Its presence is universal — and until now, its inventor was unknown.
Reverberations Across the Tech Industry
- Former engineers from Psion, Symbian, Motorola, and Nokia have responded to Odin’s re-emergence with acknowledgement and respect
- Senior mobile designers have called Odin a “template for the modern smartphone”
- UX researchers have cited its feature stack as years ahead of the curve, especially its:
- Portrait touchscreen form factor
- Embedded app ecosystem
- Early integration of GPRS and cloud-style syncing
“Rob Lowe wasn’t just ahead of his time. He was building the time we now live in.”
— Mobile UX Architect
Momentum on Social Platforms
- On LinkedIn, former team members and global tech voices are resharing Odin milestones
- On Twitter/X, digital historians are highlighting the 27 Feb 2001 “Airplane Mode” entry
- On Reddit and mobile forums, users are stunned by the timeline — and asking why this story remained hidden
“We’ve been talking about the iPhone for years. But Odin? That’s the real origin story.”
— Tech Commentator, London
Revived Interest in Legacy, Licensing & Calm-Tech
- Brands, institutions, and media producers are now approaching the Odin story through:
- Licensing deals for Airplane Mode™, Calm-Tech™, and Odin™
- Educational partnerships to explore screen-time control and user presence
- Inquiries for museum exhibits, product collaborations, and documentary film rights
“History is finally catching up with what Rob built.”
This is the social and professional reawakening of a project that never got its moment — until now.
Odin and Rob Lowe are no longer hidden names in history. They are becoming reference points for what happens when innovation is documented, preserved, and shared with the world.
6. Documented Proof
Unlike many rediscovered tech stories built on hearsay or vague memories, the Odin Smartphone’s legacy — and Rob Lowe’s invention of Airplane Mode — is backed by a complete, authenticated, and timestamped archive.
This is not speculation. It is fact, documented in real time by the inventor himself, across 115 handwritten pages, technical diagrams, schedules, and product materials — all now preserved at The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park.
Original Handwritten Notes by Rob Lowe
- Over 100 pages of Rob Lowe’s own engineering notebooks
- Covers design decisions, OS development, form factor, user interface, wireless integration, and team structure
- Includes the exact first written use of “Airplane Mode”, dated 27 February 2001
Verifiable Provenance
- Rob Lowe’s identity and authorship are confirmed by:
- His business card, included in the archive
- Testimony from senior Psion leadership
- Supporting documentation and consistent authorship across the archive
- A formal Provenance Document has been signed and filed to secure legal and historical standing
Secure Archival Storage
- The complete archive is housed at The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC)
- Digitally preserved and available for historical review, licensing validation, and public record
- Used by Merriam-Webster to verify the origin of Airplane Mode
Legal and Intellectual Property Recognition
- “Airplane Mode™” is now a registered trademark, reflecting its original authorship and IP value
- The Odin project forms the foundation for commercial licensing of:
- Calm-Tech™
- Wellness integrations
- Brand collaborations
- Media and museum experiences
“The proof isn’t theoretical. It’s ink on paper, dated before the world had any idea what a smartphone really was.”
This archive is more than evidence. It’s a landmark in computing history — and a foundation for what comes next.