Sam Pitroda founded a digital switching company called Wescom Switching in 1974 and that was one of the first in that category. He invented many revolutionary systems and electrical accessories and has many patents too his credit. His invention, the 580 DSS switch became a hit across the world in 1978. However, his company Wescom was later acquired by Rockwell International and Pitroda became its President.
Background
Sam Pitroda was born into a Gujarati family on 4th May, 1942 in Titlagarh, Orissa. His parents, who migrated from Gujarat to Orissa were staunch followers of Mahatma Gandhi, and deeply influenced by his philosophies. They sent Sam Pitroda and his brother to Gujarat to learn more about Gandhian philosophy. Sam Patroda did his schooling in Vallabh Vidyanagar in Gujarat and finished a Master's degree in Physics and Electronics from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara.
Career
In 1974, Sam Pitroda joined a company, Wescom Switching which was one of the first digital switching companies in the world. He developed a new system called 580 DSS switch, which he spent nearly four years perfecting. Thus, in 1978, it was released to the world and it became an instant hit becoming one of the most successful systems in the market. In 1983, he also designed his own computer-themed card game called Compucards which used binary numbers instead of decimal had a computer bug as the joker. The equivalent of a king in a regular deck of cards was the 'Programmer' that bore an uncanny resemblance to Pitroda himself. Through the 1990s Mr. Pitroda explored the world of mobile phone transaction technology and telecom developments in emerging markets. In 1984, Mr. Pitroda was invited to return to India by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. On his return, he started the Center for Development of Telematics C-DOT, an autonomous telecom R&D organization. He had previously become a naturalized US citizen, and renounced his US citizenship to take Indian citizenship again in order to work in the Government.