Matti Makkonen is known worldwide as the father of SMS - Short Messaging Services on Cell phones. He developed his initial idea of sending messages via mobile networks in 1984. He died on 26th June 2015 after a prolonged illness, aged at 63.
He was employed by Nokia Networks and Tele Finland, as well as Finnet Oy. Makkonen played a leading role in creating the mobile communication unit of what is today Telia Sonera.
Matti Makkonen, who helped to launch the worldwide sensation of texting, has died at the age of 63 after an illness – BBC News
Makkonen pitched the original idea for SMS in 1984, while working as a civil servant, over a pizza at a telecoms conference in Copenhagen. His work is widely regarded as being critical to its success, though Makkonen did not receive any money from the invention, because he did not apply for a patent.
Unfortunately, Makkonen wasn’t able to patent the invention of SMS messaging, since it was only a conceived idea back in 1984.
Texting is now being eclipsed by messaging apps such as Whatsapp – but it changed how the human race communicated.
Nokia, his former employer, also played a key role in popularizing the service. The launch of the 2010 mobile phone in 1994 made it easy for people to send messages, which led to a wider acceptance. SMS continued to grow in popularity, but has since slowed as other non-cellular messaging services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger continue to gain popularity.
Who was Matti Makkonen?
Matti Makkonen (16 April 1952 – 26 June 2015) was a Finnish engineer in the field of mobile communications. Despite the nickname, he was often quick to point out that he did not invent the technology single-handedly.
As of November 2000, Makkonen joined Nokia Networks Professional Services as the units director.[7] He later became the CEO of Finnet Oy on 1 February 2003, a position which he held until 31 October 2005.
At the beginning of 2006, Makkonen served as a board member and consultant for Tieto-X and the PR agency Evia.
In 2008, Makkonen was awarded The Economist Innovation Award in the computing and telecommunications category for his work on text messaging (SMS).
He died at the age of 63 after an illness on 26th Jun 2015.
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