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Top U.S. Wireless Innovators of All Time
Introducing the Top U.S. Wireless Innovators of All Time
Last month the U.S. wireless industry officially marked the 25th anniversary of the day the first cellular system opened for business in Chicago. Many of the industry's movers and shakers gathered in Chicago on Oct. 14 for the Wireless History Foundation's gala celebrating the anniversary. That monumental event triggered a lot of discussion (and reminiscing) among the FierceWireless editorial team.
With the 25th anniversary in mind, we decided it was time to honor the contributions of some of the wireless industry's foremost leaders and innovators with the FierceWireless list of Top U.S. Wireless Innovators of All Time.
The people on this list were selected by the FierceWireless editors with some input from our readers. And because FierceWireless is primarily a U.S.-based publication, this list is focused on innovators who helped shape the U.S. wireless industry. These innovators are true wireless pioneers but they were not just selected for their past contributions. They were also chosen because many are still active in the wireless industry today, making sure that their legacy lives on.
Please join me in saluting these wireless industry innovators for their hard work, ingenuity and wisdom. -Sue
The Top U.S. Wireless Innovators of All Time:
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Top U.S. Wireless Innovators of All Time
Comments
Posted by Wireless Wonder | November 13, 2008 - 1:34pm
How about adding Ed Zander to the list? He destroyed Motorola Devices in matter of few years and did not ask for a bailout from Congress.
Posted by Bill Young | November 13, 2008 - 2:15pm
Amazing! You left offRichard H. Frenkiel and Joel S. Engel of Bell Labs who invented the concept of a cellular system and were instrumental in setting the FCC specs for the cellular system as we know it today.
Posted by Anonymous | November 13, 2008 - 2:44pm
I think the title should be Wireless Innovators who also made a billion dollars on the way :-)
Posted by Anonymous | November 13, 2008 - 2:49pm
You seem to have included people who commercialized the mobile phones. You have totally left out the people like Richard H. Frenkiel and Joel S. Engel who developed the original cellular system
Posted by Sue Marek | November 13, 2008 - 2:53pm
We picked people that not only made significant contributions in the past but are still involved in wireless today. --Sue
Posted by Joe Blackman | November 13, 2008 - 2:59pm
This list is really lacking. How is building a trade association an INNOVATION? Really? The omission of MOT is a huge one, as is the omission of the inventors of wireless data, especially. Including an analyst is odd, and by your own criteria, it would seem that Andy Seybold should have made the cut over Herschel Shosteck.
Posted by Anonymous | November 13, 2008 - 4:40pm
How is Shosteck still "involved in wireless today" if he's dead?
Posted by Sue Marek | November 13, 2008 - 5:38pm
As I said in the article, his legacy lives on through his firm, The Shosteck Group.
Posted by Anonymous | November 13, 2008 - 6:24pm
Senator Mark Warner and Arthur Blooston, Esquire get my vote.
Posted by Anonymous | November 14, 2008 - 4:35am
With the exception of Martin Cooper, none of these would make a top 25 European list
Posted by Anonymous | November 14, 2008 - 8:10am
How about the top wireless knuckleheads? Nominations are Foresee, Zander, and ...
Posted by Jane Zweig | November 14, 2008 - 2:48pm
I am proud to have inherited the legacy of Dr. Herschel Shosteck by continuing as CEO and owner of The Shosteck Group. Both Dr. Shosteck and Andy Seybold are innovators in their own right. Herschel and Andy had great respect for each other and in spite of "competition", were friends as well. I am pleased to say that I join in Herschel's respect and friendship with Andy too. It should not be viewed as an either or situation...but rather a tribute to Herschel which was well deserved.
Posted by Alien | November 14, 2008 - 3:36pm
Has anybody noticed that the Japanese, Koreans, Finns, and Swedes have outperformed the Americans in wireless? Jobs and Jacobs are the exceptions.
Posted by Anonymous | November 15, 2008 - 12:54am
Guys, you need to be fair to Sue. She is clueless when it comes to wireless.
How about the 1990's CEO's from Nokia and Ericsson?
Ah that's right, Sue has no clue in terms of wireless.
I mean this is not difficult, which exec's drove innovation in the last 50 years of wireless.
How about Al Gross, he invented CB radio? Wasn't that the first wireless technology with voice?
For the love of god, what about Vic Hayes the father of WIFI?
This stuff isn't really hard, we are talking about simplistic stuff here.
I think it is really time I found a new site for wireless news.
Posted by Anonymous | November 16, 2008 - 6:35pm
Heddy Lamar...Miss CDMA and a hot actress. Her movies and bits still live; so she qualifies.
Posted by Anonymous | November 16, 2008 - 6:38pm
What about the Canadians...eh? We export more than just ice hockey.
Posted by Anonymous | November 18, 2008 - 1:10pm
No Philippe Kahn? The camera-phone with first transmission worldwide? Need to get that right!
Posted by Anonymous | November 19, 2008 - 6:04pm
Dick Tracey. He invented the wrist phone and knew how to use it!
Posted by Anonymous | November 20, 2008 - 12:29pm
The bureaucratic head of a trade group that organizes two big shows a year? Are you serious? What's the criteria for getting on the list? Please tell us what he innovated. Think it's time to start reading Mad Magazine for wireless news.
Posted by Anonymous | November 25, 2008 - 12:37am
I guess you have to pop into Sue's head randomly to get onto this list.
God bless Moconews.net
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