Often referred to as the "father of cell phone," Marty Cooper first came up with the concept of a portable cellular phone in 1973 and led his team at Motorola in the 10-year quest to bring the first cellular phone to market.
Cooper spent 29 years with Motorola and served as corporate director of research and development. He then founded Cellular Business Systems, a cellular billing firm that he later sold to Cincinnati Bell. Cooper remains actively involved in the wireless industry. Since 1992, he has served as the executive chairman and co-founder of Arraycomm, a San Jose, Calif.-based startup that makes smart antenna technology.
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/day-two-keynote-photos
[2] http://www.fiercewireless.com/special-reports/top-u-s-wireless-innovators-all-time
[3] http://www.fiercewireless.com/special-reports/arlene-harris