Leaders in the wireless telecommunications industry today announced formation of the Wireless History Foundation (WHF), industry-wide support for the new non-profit group, and further details regarding a celebration launching the organization. The Foundation, designed to preserve and promote the rich history of wireless, will hold its kickoff event Oct. 13 at the Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago. The date marks the 25th anniversary of the start of cellular communications.
Begun as a grassroots wireless history initiative, the Wireless History Foundation and its Cellular 25 event have gained support from trade associations and luminaries from across the industry. Today, WHF announced new sponsorship from PCIA-The Wireless Infrastructure Association (PCIA) and the Rural Cellular Association. These two trade groups join CTIA-The Wireless Industry Association® as association sponsors. Discussions with several other industry groups are underway.
“Wireless entrepreneurs and innovators made this industry great. We owe it to future generations to capture in a dedicated repository the important events and contributions these pioneers have made over the past several decades,” said Arlene Harris, Founder, Jitterbug, and WHF President. “Given the evolution of ubiquitous services and open network access, the convergence of the Internet and wireless broadband technologies, we are living history that is in the making—history that is WHF’s mission to organize and preserve.”
The Oct. 13 festivities will begin with a 5:00 pm reception, followed by dinner and dessert. The evening program is designed to encourage professional connections and, importantly, reconnect colleagues from across wireless generations.
In addition to a list of well-known supporters released on June 5, the following individuals have signed on as advocates of the Cellular 25 celebration and WHF (listed alphabetically):
- Denise Archer Allen, Vice President, Danal, Inc. and former executive with Metro One New York and New Jersey
- Amy Damianakes, Principal, Damianakes Communications, and former Director of Communications, AirTouch
- Matt Desch, Chairman and CEO, Iridium Satellite LLC, and former President, Nortel Wireless Networks
- F. Craig Farrill, Board Member, Kodiak Networks, and former Vice President Engineering, Communications Industries
- Brian Fontes, PhD, CEO, National Emergency Number Association, and former Senior Advisor to FCC Commissioner James H. Quello
- Ken Hardman, Attorney at Law, and former General Counsel, Telocator (now PCIA)
- René Link, Vice President, VeriSign, and former Product Manager of Roaming Services, Bell Atlantic Mobile
- Sean Maloney, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Sales and Marketing Group, and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Intel Corp.
- John Major, President, MTSG, and former Vice President, Trunking Strategic Business Unit, Motorola
- Sue Major, Managing Partner, Global Technology Practice, DavenportMajor Executive Search, and former Product Planning Manager, Motorola
- H. Donald Nelson, Retired, former President, U.S. Cellular
- Andrew Seybold, Founder and Principal Consultant, Andrew Seybold, Inc., and Co-Founder, Portable Computer and Communications Association (PCCA)
- C.P. Shankar, CEO, American Grid, Inc., Founder and former CTO of GM Onstar, and former Vice President, Fujitsu America, Inc.
- Dennis F. Strigl, President and COO, Verizon Communications, and former President, Ameritech Mobile Communications, Inc.
- Richard E. Wiley, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP and former Chairman, FCC
The Foundation was launched in collaboration with many industry pioneers and is led by Ms. Harris; Elizabeth Maxfield, Attorney, former Senior Vice President, CTIA, and Founder, CIBERNET; and Judith (Lockwood) Purcell, Managing Director, Coracle Group LLC and Founding Editor of RCR Wireless News, Wireless Week, and other telecom business media. WHF’s initial mission includes development of a comprehensive Web site detailing the colorful, compelling story of the evolution of the wireless industry. This includes paging, public safety, private radio, and cellular, all of which provided technology and market experience for today’s explosion in wireless services. As part of its plans to provide deserved recognition for industry leaders, WHF is also assuming leadership of the long-standing Wireless Hall of Fame awards program founded by Crain’s RCR Wireless News, one of the industry’s earliest business publications.
Tickets are $250 each; tables of 10 are $2500. To register for the history-making event on Oct. 13 visit: www.wirelessfoundation.org/Cellular25/index.cfm. For information on corporate sponsorships, please email: cellular25sponsor@coraclegroup.com.
About the Wireless History Foundation
Founded by experienced leaders in the wireless industry, the Wireless History Foundation (WHF) seeks to educate and inspire future generations about the significance and growth of wireless telecommunications. Formed in 2008, the non-profit Foundation is developing programs that build community within the industry to preserve its rich and colorful history. WHF also intends to educate consumers and businesses regarding the many ways in which wireless adds convenience, productivity, and enrichment to everyday life. WHF welcomes sponsorship and volunteer inquiries.