The first telephone was made in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell. This invention would eventually come to change the way people all around communicated and sparked an industry that still allows people to make millions each year. Below is a picture of Bell's first telephone along with a of his design.
In 1900, George Campbell and Michael Pupin invented the loading coils. Loading coils also known as inductors were laid on telephone lines. This reduced distortion and the loss of signal. Below is an example of a modern loading coil. This coil allowed telephone transmission to extend between and across major cities.
In 1904, Flemming invents the vacuum diode which detects radio waves. An innovation of this known as the three element vacuum tube is patented in 1907 by Lee De Forest and allows transcontinental telephone service to be possible. The three element vacuum electronically amplifies signals. Below is an image of the patent De Forest submitted in 1907.
In 1915, the first transcontinental phone call is made by Alexander Graham Bell. Bell, in New York, calls Thomas Watson in San Francisco. This phone call is made possible using De Forest's three element vacuum to boost the signal. Below is a picture of an transcontinental phone with a three element vacuum tube attached.
In 1919, Bell begins to switch systems and rotary-dial phones. The use of an operator is somewhat difficult and the dial helps ease the task of making a phone call. The finger wheel works by interrupting the current in the phone line and creating pulses. These pulses translated or corresponded to the digits of the number being called. Below is a picture of the first dial phone with some additional facts.
In 1920, the multiplexing concept was developed by At&t. This allowed phone calls to be made on different frequencies so that more than one phone call could be made at a time.
In 1947, At&t and Bell Labs developed the North American Numbering plan because of the the rapid exponential growth of the use of the telephone.
In 1949 the Model 500 telephone is introduced by At&t. This was the first telephone that combined a ringer and a handset. It featured adjustable volume controls and later was offered in a variety of colors. Below is an image of the Model 500.
In 1947, At&t and Bell Labs developed the North American Numbering plan because of the the rapid exponential growth of the use of the telephone.
In 1949 the Model 500 telephone is introduced by At&t. This was the first telephone that combined a ringer and a handset. It featured adjustable volume controls and later was offered in a variety of colors. Below is an image of the Model 500.
1951, the first long distance call is made within the U.S. without requiring an operator, but long distance calling is not available to the public for another decade.
1956, the first transatlantic cable is installed. It took three years and $42 million to develop and install and was a joint project of the U.S., Canada, and Britain.
1962, the first commercial digital transmission system is used. Known as Transmission 1 or T1, this system allowed a total capacity to carry up to 1.5 million bits and was less subject to electrical interference from high tension wires. This T1 system also allowed the creation of the Bellboy which was the first pager that alerted users who would then have to call their original phones to retrieve their messages. Below is a picture of the Bellboy.
1956, the first transatlantic cable is installed. It took three years and $42 million to develop and install and was a joint project of the U.S., Canada, and Britain.
1962, the first commercial digital transmission system is used. Known as Transmission 1 or T1, this system allowed a total capacity to carry up to 1.5 million bits and was less subject to electrical interference from high tension wires. This T1 system also allowed the creation of the Bellboy which was the first pager that alerted users who would then have to call their original phones to retrieve their messages. Below is a picture of the Bellboy.
In 1963, the touch tone telephone was introduced. It was known as the Western Electric 1500 and featured 10 push buttons that replaced the original dial. Soon after an innovated model replaced the 1500 and featured the * key and # key. A picture of the 1500 is provided below.
1968- 911 is made.
1973- The first portable cell phone is made by Martin Cooper of Motorola.
1978- Public tests of the new cellular phone system are conducted. By the 1980s commercial service is available to the public. Below is a picture of the first cell phone.
1973- The first portable cell phone is made by Martin Cooper of Motorola.
1978- Public tests of the new cellular phone system are conducted. By the 1980s commercial service is available to the public. Below is a picture of the first cell phone.
By the year 2000 there are over a million people subscribed to cellular service and the best is yet to come.