Father of SMS, Matti Makkonen, who helped to launch the worldwide sensation of texting, has died at the age of 63 due to prolonged illness. He developed the idea of sending messages via mobile networks. Despite the nickname, he was often quick to point out that he did not invent the technology single-handedly.

The Finnish creator pitched the concept of text messaging over cellular networks in 1984 and helped get the ball rolling on the technology in its earliest days. Makkonen kept his work on the idea quiet, and it took a newspaper investigation for his identity to become known. Makkonen, the grand old man of the mobile industry, said that he considered the development of SMS a joint effort and that it was Nokia who helped to popularise the service.

Makkonen worked for Nokia Networks and Tele Finland, and was CEO of Finnet Oy between 2003 and 2005. In 2008 he was named a winner of The Economist’s Innovation awards, for his work on the message standard.