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Telephone Timeline: A Brief History of the Business Phone

Paul Hammond
September 3, 2013

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Telephone Timeline: A Brief History of the Business Phone

Antonio Meucci’s invention of the telephone in 1871 began the era of telecommunications. Not Alexander Graham Bell’s as many have been taught. This started the telephone timeline that continues to grow to this day. Meucci, a brilliant Italian inventor, filed the first one-year renewable notice of an impending patent of the “teletrofono” on December 28, 1871.

Unfortunately, Meucci’s financial troubles combined with misfortune led to the disappearance of his working telephone models from Western Union Affiliate Laboratory. Alexander Graham Bell ran experiments at the same lab as Meucci. Soon after, he was granted a patent in March 1876, starting our telephone timeline. Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, passed away in October 1889, before Bell’s patent could be dispelled on grounds of fraud.

Telephony's History from 1871 - Present

The initial controversy surrounding the true inventor of the telephone has all but faded. But movers and shakers in the 20th century have continued to expand the telephone’s reach across the world. By the year 2000, more than a billion people all over the world had gone wireless. This was possible with cellular technology to talk and deliver text and photos on lightweight phones. In less than two decades, the telephone timeline shifted from analog signals to digital communications. This includes Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which has revolutionized the telecom industry with Dr. Marian Rogers Croak, the Voice over Internet Protocol inventor. It also includes us, VirtualPBX, who introduced VoIP to businesses in 1997. Mobile phones have made headlines as they gradually evolved from expensive bricks to pocket-sized computers. Meanwhile, VoIP providers have helped to enhance international and business communication.

Telephone Timeline Infographic

This brief timeline of the telephone shows how we got to where we are today. The timeline begins with the first telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell and continues to the very first VoIP software.

We’re proud of our part in the telephone timeline. We continue to evolve and are committed to keeping our customers at the forefront of business communications. So, explore our award-winning Business Phone Plans and pro-level features today!