By using a branch-line ground plane, a monopole radiator, and parasitic patches, a newly compact cable-fed antenna is investigated in order to overcome the thickness problem of the planar inverted antenna (PIFA). The designed antenna has dimensions of only 40 x 12 x 1 mm and the impedance bandwidth of the proposed antenna is able to cover the GSM, DCS, and PCS hands. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.