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Ma Bell's orphan: US cellular telephony, 1947-1996

Author

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  • King, John Leslie
  • West, Joel

Abstract

The AT&T Bell System invented cellular telephony and deployed the world's first prototype cellular system. Strangely, neither AT&T nor its spin-off Regional Bell Operating Companies capitalized on that technological lead, and cellular telephony in the US slipped behind that in other developed countries. This turnaround is explained as a combination of a competency trap that blinded the AT&T Bell System leadership to the importance of the wireless telephony market and the lead their cellular system offered, coupled with a failure of institutional agency required to organize and direct the emerging industry resulting from the death of the AT&T Bell System.

Suggested Citation

  • King, John Leslie & West, Joel, 0. "Ma Bell's orphan: US cellular telephony, 1947-1996," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(3-4), pages 189-203, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:26:y::i:3-4:p:189-203
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    Cited by:

    1. Anthony Creane & Kaz Miyagiwa, 2007. "The Profitable Suppression of Inventions: Technology Choice and Entry Deterrence," ISER Discussion Paper 0702, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.

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