Telephone Timeline

  • Innocenzo Manzetti first mooted the idea of a "speaking telegraph" or telephone.

    Innocenzo Manzetti first mooted the idea of a "speaking telegraph" or telephone.
  • Antonio Meucci files patent caveat No. 3335 in the U.S. Patent Office titled "Sound Telegraph", describing communication of voice between two people by wire.

    Antonio Meucci files patent caveat No. 3335 in the U.S. Patent Office titled "Sound Telegraph", describing communication of voice between two people by wire.
  • Elisha Gray files a patent caveat for transmitting the human voice through a telegraphic circuit.

    Elisha Gray files a patent caveat for transmitting the human voice through a telegraphic circuit.
  • Alexander Graham Bell applies for the patent "Improvements in Telegraphy", for electromagnetic telephones using what is now called amplitude modulation but which he referred to as "undulating current".

    Alexander Graham Bell applies for the patent "Improvements in Telegraphy", for electromagnetic telephones using what is now called amplitude modulation but which he referred to as "undulating current".
  • The first successful telephone transmission of clear speech using a liquid transmitter when Bell spoke into his device, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you." and Watson heard each word distinctly.

    The first successful telephone transmission of clear speech using a liquid transmitter when Bell spoke into his device, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you." and Watson heard each word distinctly.