Apple got the App Store onto the original iPhone by making it a software update, not a separate downloadable app. The first iPhone launched in 2007 without native third-party apps; Apple later added the App Store in iPhone OS 2.0 in 2008, which users installed through iTunes or a device update.

How it happened

Appleā€™s approach was simple:

  1. Ship the original iPhone with only Appleā€™s built-in apps.
  2. Create a secure distribution system for third-party apps.
  3. Deliver that system as an OS update.
  4. Let users browse, buy, and install apps through the new store.

That meant the App Store was integrated into the phoneā€™s software stack rather than ā€œinstalledā€ like a normal app. In practice, once the update landed, the App Store icon appeared on the home screen and became part of the iPhone experience.

Why Apple did it this way

Apple wanted control over quality, security, and user experience. A curated store also gave Apple a way to review apps before they reached users, which helped shape the iPhoneā€™s early reputation as a polished platform.

The bigger impact

This move turned the iPhone from a closed device into a platform for developers. It also kicked off the modern mobile app economy, because users could finally discover and install software directly on the phone instead of relying on desktop syncing.

TL;DR: Apple didnā€™t ā€œput the App Store onā€ the original iPhone at launch; it added it later through an iPhone software update, and that update introduced the whole app marketplace.