Pioneering entrepreneur, inventor, and policy advocate who championed women's economic empowerment and founded the National Association for Female Executives .
Arlene Harris is a renowned entrepreneur, inventor, and policy advocate in the telecommunications industry, known for her pioneering work in mobile and wireless enterprise. As the president and co-founder of Dyna LLC, an incubator for startup and early-stage organizations, Harris has been instrumental in shaping the wireless technology landscape.
Harris's contributions to the field of wireless communications are vast and varied. She holds several patents in the field and has been a founding member of many early cellular industry organizations. Her companies have achieved substantial market share for cellular billing systems, developed and implemented the first prepaid cellular service, and created the first automated wireless management systems.
One of Harris's most notable achievements is the development and market introduction of the SOS phone, later renamed the Jitterbug. Launched in 2006 in partnership with Samsung, the Jitterbug phone was specifically designed for seniors, with a user-friendly interface and simplified features. The phone's success was unprecedented, and it was eventually sold to a Chicago private equity company in 2017 and acquired by Best Buy Co, Inc. in 2018.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Harris began her career at the tender age of 12 as a mobile telephone switchboard operator for her family's business, Industrial Communications Systems ICS, Inc. She later sold the company to Metromedia in 1983, which is now known as Spok.
In 2018, Harris embarked on a new venture, Wrethink, a high-tech startup company focused on consumer privacy and helping families use technology to organize and manage personal information. In addition to Wrethink, Harris and Martin Cooper started Wrethinking, a foundation to support early-stage technology companies and other meaningful nonprofits that embrace charitable and/or aligned social purposes.
Harris's contributions to the telecommunications industry have been recognized with several awards and honors. In 2007, she became the first female inductee of the Wireless Hall of Fame, and in 2017, she was named to the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame.
Arlene Harris's impact on the telecommunications industry is immeasurable. She has paved the way for women in technology and has been a trailblazer in the field of wireless communications. Her innovative spirit, entrepreneurial drive, and commitment to making technology accessible to all have inspired generations of technologists and entrepreneurs.
Harris's story serves as a testament to the power of innovation, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit. As a pioneer in telecommunications, she continues to inspire and empower individuals and organizations to harness the potential of technology to improve lives and create positive change.
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