Greg Christie

"Greg has been planning to retire later this year after nearly 20 years at Apple," an official said in an email.

One of the pioneers behind the iPhone, software engineer Greg Christie, is leaving Apple, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

Christie was part of the team that developed the iOS software for the first iPhone, which came out in 2007.

Last year, a member of Apples sales team prepared a research document expressing concern about the growth in sales of smartphones with larger screens, while sales in the segment of phones including the iPhone were slowing.

"Greg has been planning to retire later this year after nearly 20 years at Apple," an official said in an email.

One of the pioneers behind the iPhone, software engineer Greg Christie, is leaving Apple, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

Christie was part of the team that developed the iOS software for the first iPhone, which came out in 2007.

Last year, a member of Apples sales team prepared a research document expressing concern about the growth in sales of smartphones with larger screens, while sales in the segment of phones including the iPhone were slowing.