Wireless - Bethesda, Maryland, US
Omnipoint was a mobile services provider that was introduced to America in 1996 in New York City. The company is now known as T-Mobile USA, the 3rd largest mobile services company in America, and a subsidiary of the German telecom giant Deutsche Telekom AG, based in Bonn, Germany. Before Omnipoint was merged with Voicestream, Aerial, and PowerTel, it introduced many innovations which provided the foundation for today's mobile ecosystem. Among the company's many innovations: prepaid billing; international text messaging; mobile wireless Internet; Wi-Fi Sharing or tethering, and one number international roaming. As was common in the 1990s when mobile operators dictated device development, Omnipoint drove the design of many mobile phones that became consumer favorites, including the Bosch WorldPhone. The company was founded by Doug Smith, and led by George Schmitt, a member of the wireless Hall of Fame who deployed the first GSM digital wireless network, D2 in Germany, which became Vodafone.