History of the Telephone

First Acoustic Telephone

1667

Robert Hooke created the first acoustic telephone. The user would talk into a mouthpiece, the sound would be transmitted over a string, and then would be heard through an ear piece.

First Telephone

Mar 10, 1876

Alexander Graham Bell is patented for created the first telephone that transmitted sound electronically.

The Photophone

1880

Alexander Graham Bell creates the photophone, which can send sound over a beam of light.

Automobile-based Phones

1946

The first telephone call from an automobile based phones is made. It is common for many vehicles to have built in phones now.

Transatlantic Telephone Cables

1956

The Creation of transatlantic telephone cables makes intercontinental calls much more affordable than the radio telephone system previously used.

First Cellular Phone Call

1973

Martin Cooper places the first cellular phone call to Joe Engle.

First Mobile Telephone

1973

The first mobile telephone, known as the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x, was created. It was very expensive and did not offer much talk time.

Cellular Network

1977

The first primary cellular test network is created by FCC.

First Text Message

1992

Logica GMC sends out the first commercial text message.

Smartphones

1992

The first smartphone is released, although it is very different than modern smartphones

Cellular Network

1995

Sprint creates the first cellular network designed for private use.

Internet Calls

2003

Technology is developed to be able to send phone calls over the internet. This allowed long distance charges to be avoided.

Apple and Android

2007

Apple and Android enter the smartphone market, turning it into what it is today.