The History of Telephone Communication

Author: Rochelle Sanchirico

The telephone was first patented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell. Bell is credited as the inventor owing to his patent, despite other inventors having been working on similar telecommunications devices at the time. In 1887, William Gray installed the first pay phone in the Hartford Bank. By the late 1800s, dial phones were becoming popular in the United States. Bell and Thomas Watson made the first official coast-to-coast call in 1915. Around the 1920s, telephones were relatively common fixtures. The early days of telephony saw a need for access to emergency communication, and a solution was provided by the founders of a communications company called Ericsson Incorporated. It was not until the 1960s, however, that the 911 system began to be adopted. As telephones have grown in popularity, so have their uses: What once was a simple communication device has now evolved into much more.

• Telephone History
• Timeline of the History of the Telephone
• The History of Communication Technology: Telephone
• The First Telephone Call
• Alexander Graham Bell’s Path to the Telephone

The introduction of the telephone changed the way society operated and communicated with one another. Telephones exploded in popularity because people were able to talk with friends or family who lived far away in real time. The expansion of telephones changed the business world as well. Businesses were able to more effectively communicate with their clients, which allowed them to meet their needs sooner and more efficiently. Telephones also provided an opening for new types of jobs, such as field service management. Field service management is a system for managing a company’s resources that are employed at a client’s site or are available to the client via technology. Field service management relies on telephones to provide the ability to direct and manage a mobile workforce as well as to provide access to customer data. Telephones also allow the customer to get in touch with whomever is in charge of their field service management should they have any questions or concerns. Telephones are integral to the success and growth of a business.

• Who Is Credited as Inventing the Telephone? Several inventors created successful telecommunication devices, but one inventor is considered the true inventor because he received the first patent.
• Universal Service: Learn about the acts that helped ensure that all Americans, including those in remote areas, have access to communications services.
• Capitol Hill’s Telephonic Revolution: The invention of the telephone changed the way communication was received on Capitol Hill.
• Elisha Gray: Elisha Gray was another inventor who was working on a communications device at the same time as Alexander Graham Bell. This piece describes more about Gray and his life.
• Senate Considers Banning Dial Phones: At one point, the Senate debated dial versus manual phones and considered banning the dial phone altogether. This brief account describes how a resolution was reached.
• History of Telecommunications Access for Individuals With Disabilities: Early telecommunications devices did not account for the needs of those with disabilities. This piece details the measures that were taken in order to improve accessibility.
• Pictures of Automatic Electric Telephones: Look through this selection of pictures to see what the transformation of automatic telephones looked like.
• The Role of Farmer Lines in the Early History of the Telephone Industry in the United States: Alexander Graham Bell initially wished to avoid providing telephones in rural areas due to high costs. Farmers worked alongside entrepreneurs to expand service to rural areas.
• Bell Telephone: This article details Alexander Graham Bell’s personal history as well as his invention of the telephone. The piece also includes a photo of the device.
• Great Achievements: Telephone: Learn more about the invention of the telephone and its early years. Click through the article to learn about how the telephone was able to go long-distance as well.
• The Impact of the Telephone: Telephones were an invention that had a large and lasting impact on modern society. Read on to learn how telephones affect personal and business communications.
• Historical Perspectives on Development of Antique Analog Telephone Systems: The history of telephone invention can be a bit unclear, as several inventors were working on similar projects at the same time. This article from the Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology details the history and development of analog telephones.
• There’s a 1,200-Year-Old Phone in the Smithsonian Collections: The telephone was predated by a simple communication device that many will find they are familiar with in concept. This article discusses the earliest known example of telephone technology.
• 1870s-1940s Telephone: Learn more about the development of the telephone as well as how the world changed due to its introduction. You can also discover predictions that were made about the telephone’s future.
• The Importance of Telecommunications and Telecommunications Research: The world would not exist exactly as we know it without the development of telecommunications technology.
• How the Telephone Brought Societal Change: Sociology professor Claude S. Fischer describes the effect the telephone’s invention had on society and how people adapted their personal communication styles based on the telephone’s introduction.
• A Brief History of the Use of Technology in Business: This article provides an account of the effects technology has had in the business world, with attention paid to the introduction of telephones.
• Telegraph and Telephone: The telegraph predated the telephone but opened the door for the technology. This chapter details the evolution from telegraph to telephone.
• Talking Wires: The Development of the Telephone: Along with a history of the telephone, this piece includes details about the operation of early telephones, from switchboards and automatic telephone operators to long-distance communications without amplifiers.
• The History and Importance of Business Phone Systems: Telephones were the most revolutionary tool introduced into the business world before the Internet. This piece details the benefits that telephones had for businesses.
• What Is the Role of Telephone Systems in the Business World? Telephones play an integral role in businesses and business communication.
• Candlestick Telephone: The candlestick telephone was one of the earliest models.
• From Candlestick to Lucy: The Telephone Tells a National Story: Along with advances in telecommunications technology, the design of telephones also changed. This piece describes the different models.
• Public Telephones: Public telephones are an important piece of telecommunications history. This article details the importance and history of public telephones.
• History of Mobile Telephony: This presentation describes the development and evolution of radio phones, or mobile telephones.
• The History of the Telephone from A to Z Online Exhibit: “Walk” through this online exhibit to learn some of the most important facts regarding the history of the telephone.
• The Evolution of Telephone Cable: Telephones were not always easy-to-use mobile devices. Read more about the development and evolution of the cable that allowed telephones to work.