Timeline Filter by: Decade or Famous Calls The Network The Business
Siemens founds Siemens & Halske, designs pointing telegraph
Meucci devises his first electromagnetic telephone.
Reis demonstrates a telephone
Reis demonstrates a telephone
Dolbear invents early telephone receiver
Western Union carries nine million messages and launches money orders
Western Union carries nine million messages and launches money orders
Edison telegraph stock ticker printer launches
Edison telegraph stock ticker printer launches
Bell meets leather merchant Thomas Sanders (who has a deaf son) becoming close friends
Meucci files caveat for talking telegraph
Bell meets Gardiner Hubbard at the Clarke Institution for the Deaf
Gray and Barton incorporate Western Electric, with funding from Western Union
Bell moves to Boston to teach deaf students, and begins intense audio experimentation
Thomas Watson starts work at Charles Williams Jr's. shop
Western Union deploys the Stearns Duplex Telegraph
Western Union deploys the Stearns Duplex Telegraph
Western Union contracts with Thomas Edison and Elisha Gray to solve telegraph multiplexing
Elisha Gray demonstrates his 'harmonic telegraph' to Western Union
Elisha Gray demonstrates his 'harmonic telegraph' to Western Union
Western Union's Orton testifies in Congress against Hubbard's proposed telegraph competitor
Vacationing in Canada, Bell conceives how speech could be sent over telegraph wires
Bell reveals his harmonic telegraph work to Hubbard and Sanders, who agree to fund his efforts
Bell and Watson start working together at Williams' shop
Edison develops the quadruplex multiplexing telegraph
Elisha Gray leaves Western Electric to pursue other inventions
Western Union rates range from four to 25 cents per word based on distance
Western Union rates range from four to 25 cents per word based on distance
Bell Patent Association formed so Sanders and Hubbard can share in proceeds from Bell's patents
Bell pitches his harmonic telegraph to Western Union's Orton, who declines
Bell pitches his harmonic telegraph to Western Union's Orton, who declines
Bell uses a bi-directional "gallows" telephone to transmit "voice-like sounds"
Bell uses a bi-directional "gallows" telephone to transmit "voice-like sounds"
Orton engages Thomas Edison to investigate harmonic telegraphy for Western Union
Bell completes the specifications for his telephone patent application
Alexander Graham Bell realizes sound can be transmitted as a continuous electrical wave.
Alexander Graham Bell realizes sound can be transmitted as a continuous electrical wave.
Phelps' "Electro-Motor Printing Telegraph" enables 60 WPM speed
Phelps' "Electro-Motor Printing Telegraph" enables 60 WPM speed
Feb 14, 11:30am: Alexander Graham Bell's lawyer files his telephone patent
Feb 14: Elisha Gray files telephone caveat
Patent #174,465 for the telephone is issued to Bell
Patent #174,465 for the telephone is issued to Bell
Western Union begins paying Edison to develop a 'speaking telegraph"
Western Union's Orton declines to buy Bell's patent for $100k
First long distance call
Mabel insists Bell go to the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibit, where his phone is a huge hit
Lars Magnus Ericsson founds Ericsson as a mechanical engineering shop
Lars Magnus Ericsson founds Ericsson as a mechanical engineering shop
First public exhibition of the telephone, in Salem, Mass.
First public exhibition of the telephone, in Salem, Mass.
Sold-out Salem phone exhibition with two-way speech to/from Boston
Sold-out Salem phone exhibition with two-way speech to/from Boston
Bell's box phone goes into service
Bell's box phone goes into service
Brown profs swap bar magnet for Bell's horseshoe magnet, enabling butterstamp telephones
First telephone line completed, between Charles Williams Jr's home and office
Thomas Edison patents his carbon button transmitter
Berliner files caveat for improved telephone transmitter
Berliner files caveat for improved telephone transmitter
Bell and Gower exhibit the telephone in Lawrence, Mass.
Bell and Gower exhibit the telephone in Lawrence, Mass.
Bell marries Mabel Gardiner Hubbard
Bell patents transfers 75% of his Canadian patent rights to his father
Scientific American write-up of Bell's hand telephones
Scientific American write-up of Bell's hand telephones
Western Union creates the American Speaking Telephone Co.
Doolittle invents hard drawn copper wire
Doolittle invents hard drawn copper wire
Holmes Burglar Alarm of Boston installs first telephone exchange
Holmes Burglar Alarm of Boston installs first telephone exchange
Berliner joins Bell Telephone
Doolittle files patent for 'direct-connecting' switchboard
Puskás designs first telephone exchange
Watson invents a ringer that 'thumps'
Watson invents a ringer that 'thumps'
Coy opens the first telephone exchange (in New Haven)
New England Telephone formed as first Bell local operating company
New England Telephone formed as first Bell local operating company
Japan reproduces Bell telephones
First telephone directory published
First telephone directory published
Blake invents and patents his carbon microphone transmitter
Blake invents and patents his carbon microphone transmitter
Watson invents a ringer that rings
Watson invents a ringer that rings
Hilda Simonsson marries Lars Ericsson, and helps run the business
Theodore Vail joins Bell as General Manager
Bell sues Western Union for patent infringement
Bell sues Western Union for patent infringement
Emma Nutt becomes first female telephone operator
Bell and New England Telephone merge to become National Bell Telephone
Bell and New England Telephone merge to become National Bell Telephone
Bell wins its patent lawsuit against Western Union
Bell wins its patent lawsuit against Western Union
French Postes & Telegraphs founded
French Postes & Telegraphs founded
Western Union sells its phone network to Bell
Bell acquires Edison's carbon microphone patents from Western Union
Bell acquires Edison's carbon microphone patents from Western Union
Blake and his transmitter join Bell Telephone
Blake and his transmitter join Bell Telephone
Edison establishes Edison Telephone of London to compete with Bell
Parker proposes using numbers instead of names for telephone subscribers
National Bell merges with American Speaking Tel. to become American Bell Telephone Co.
National Bell merges with American Speaking Tel. to become American Bell Telephone Co.
Bell turns his focus to the Photophone
British government rules for Bell against Edison
American Bell creates Long Lines division
Western Union carries 29 million telegraph messages per year
Western Union carries 29 million telegraph messages per year
Doolittle joins American Bell
Telephone service begins in Canada, Mexico, Australia, Sweden and Denmark
Bell Telephone Company of Canada founded
Bell Telephone Company of Canada founded
Telephone Exchanges open in Berlin, Vienna, and Sydney
First telephone lines in Constantinople and Egypt
Metallic circuit introduced
Bell ends technical role at Bell Telephone, establishes Volta Laboratory
Watson retires from Bell at age 27
National Telephone Co formed by merger of Bell and Edison interests
National Telephone Co formed by merger of Bell and Edison interests
Bell acquires Western Electric, and Enos Barton takes over engineering
First telephone exchanges in India, Russia, and Shanghai
Bell Telephone Manufacturing Co. founded in Antwerp
Bell Telephone Manufacturing Co. founded in Antwerp
First long-distance line: Boston to Providence
Ericsson opens its first major factory at Tulegatan
Ericsson opens its first major factory at Tulegatan
Doolittle builds the first long distance copper wire circuit (NY to Boston)
Woods patents improved telephone transmitter
American Bell forms AT&T as subsidiary to operate long distance network
Puskas introduces the multiplex switchboard
Heaviside discovers inductive loading for telephone lines
First blue 'Bell' signs start to appear in the U.S.
First blue 'Bell' signs start to appear in the U.S.
Supreme Court upholds Bell's patent
Supreme Court upholds Bell's patent
Almon Strowger invents the automatic switch
Gray patents the coin-operated payphone
Telephone service begins between Tokyo and Yokohama
Western Union carries 55 million telegraph messages per year
Western Union carries 55 million telegraph messages per year
Gray Telephone Pay Station Co. founded
Gray Telephone Pay Station Co. founded
Strowger forms Automatic Electric Company, receives switch patent
First Strowger automatic exchange opens (in LaPorte, Indiana)
First Strowger automatic exchange opens (in LaPorte, Indiana)
First New York to Chicago phone call
First New York to Chicago phone call
First 'common battery' central office (Lexington, Mass.)
First 'common battery' central office (Lexington, Mass.)
Puskas launches Telefon Hírmondó telephone news service
Puskas launches Telefon Hírmondó telephone news service
Bell's patent expires; independent telephone movement begins
Bell's patent expires; independent telephone movement begins
Stromberg and Carlson found Stromberg-Carlson
GPO takes over UK trunk network from National Telephone
GPO takes over UK trunk network from National Telephone
Columbia Dry Cell Battery introduced, making liquid phone batteries obsolete
Columbia Dry Cell Battery introduced, making liquid phone batteries obsolete
Milo Kellogg founds Kellogg Switchboard and Supply
Poulsen invents magnetic recording for telephones
NEC founded as Japan's first foreign joint venture
AT&T becomes holding co for American Bell's assets
First Los Angeles Pay Station
First Los Angeles Pay Station
Harry Fuld founds H. Fuld & Co
Pupin loading coils patented
Pupin loading coils patented
Lars and Hilda Ericsson retire from Ericsson
Fessenden achieves first wireless voice transmission
First dial telephones introduced
First transatlantic wireless transmission
Western Electric Hawthorne Works opens in Chicago
Western Electric Hawthorne Works opens in Chicago
De Forest Audion triode invented
De Forest Audion triode invented
AT&T acquires struggling independent telcos, funded by J.P. Morgan
AT&T acquires struggling independent telcos, funded by J.P. Morgan
John J. Carty becomes AT&T chief engineer
Theodore Vail returns to AT&T as President, backed by J.P. Morgan
AT&T buys Western Union controlling interest, gaining access to its network
AT&T buys Western Union controlling interest, gaining access to its network
First multiplexed telephone circuits
Slideshow: Pac Tel 1912: Buildings and Vehicles
Pac Tel 1912: Buildings and Vehicles
Slideshow: 20 photos
Slideshow: Pac Tel 1912: Central Office Scenes
Pac Tel 1912: Central Office Scenes
Slideshow: 49 photos
Slideshow: Pac Tel 1912: Outside plant construction
Pac Tel 1912: Outside plant construction
Slideshow: 57 photos
Siemens begins laying the Rhineland cable
Siemens begins laying the Rhineland cable
GPO takes over entire UK telephone network
GPO takes over entire UK telephone network
Slideshow: Telephone Exchanges of the World, 1913
Telephone Exchanges of the World, 1913
Slideshow: 27 photos
Vacuum tube repeater demonstrated
AT&T divests Western Union
AT&T divests Western Union
AT&T forced to open up its long-distance lines to independent competitors
AT&T forced to open up its long-distance lines to independent competitors
U.S. drops antitrust suit against AT&T, cementing its quasi-monopoly
U.S. drops antitrust suit against AT&T, cementing its quasi-monopoly
500 Western Electric employees die in disaster on way to company picnic
500 Western Electric employees die in disaster on way to company picnic
Hartley invents the Hartley oscillator
First transcontinental phone call (between Bell and Watson)
Arnold perfects the vacuum-tube telephone amplifier
Pelo Telefone (Donga)
Pelo Telefone (Donga)
Bell system introduces rotary dialing, and the dial candlestick
Bell system introduces rotary dialing, and the dial candlestick
Theodore Gary acquires Automatic Electric
Julia O'Connor leads the first operators' strike
Otto Zobel invents m-derived filters
After acquiring Puerto Rican and Cuban telephone companies, the Behn brothers found ITT
Dial phones spread to major cities
Type C carrier system deployed
France creates PTT Administration
AT&T sells European subsidiaries to ITT
Giles Gilbert Scott designs the red telephone box (K2 kiosk) for GPO
Giles Gilbert Scott designs the red telephone box (K2 kiosk) for GPO
Bell Labs founded, in NYC
Bell Labs founded, in NYC
Automatic Electric acquires American Electric and Monarch Telephone
Davisson–Germer experiment confirms wave particle duality of matter
First long-distance video transmission over copper (with Herbert Hoover)
First long-distance video transmission over copper (with Herbert Hoover)
First transatlantic phone calls, using radio signals
First transatlantic phone calls, using radio signals
Black invents the negative feedback amplifier
Hartley formulates Hartley's law
Nyquist and Johnson explain thermal noise in conductors
A Desert Span, Building Trunk Telephone Lines (AT&T)
A Desert Span, Building Trunk Telephone Lines (AT&T)
The Tele Skater Girls
The Tele Skater Girls
The U.S. has most of the world's telephones
The U.S. has most of the world's telephones
Henry Dreyfuss opens his industrial design firm
Sallie Mead becomes first woman to hold a patent at AT&T
Coaxial cable patented by Espenschied and Affel
Phone Pioneers Talk Telephone
Phone Pioneers Talk Telephone
Anti-sidetone circuit developed
Anti-sidetone circuit developed
ITT gives Pope Piux XI a gold phone
ITT gives Pope Piux XI a gold phone
Bell Labs engineers demonstrate microwaves guided through a hollow metal pipe
The World's Switchboard!
The World's Switchboard!
Gray discovers the Gray graph
Nazis launch anti-semitic campaign against (and ultimately seizure of) Jewish-owned Fuld & Co.
Nazis launch anti-semitic campaign against (and ultimately seizure of) Jewish-owned Fuld & Co.
ITT's Behn meets with Hitler, begins cash payments to the SS and Gestapo
Bell Labs engineers discover that attenuation drops as wave frequency increases
Communications Act of 1934
Communications Act of 1934
AT&T terminates exclusivity with Gray, designs its own payphones
AT&T terminates exclusivity with Gray, designs its own payphones
Bell Labs scientists pioneer crystal lattice (quartz) filters
Anglo-Icelandic radio telephone service inaugurated
Anglo-Icelandic radio telephone service inaugurated
First phone call routed around the world
First phone call routed around the world
Salvador Dali makes dial compact for Elsa Schiaparelli
Salvador Dali makes dial compact for Elsa Schiaparelli
Introduction to the Dial Telephone (AT&T)
Introduction to the Dial Telephone (AT&T)
Dali creates the Lobster Phone
Dali creates the Lobster Phone
Speech synthesizing system demoed at Bell Labs
Mead, Carson and Schelkunoff publish their 'Hyper frequency wave guides' paper
Jean Arthur in Easy Living
Jean Arthur in Easy Living
Alec Reeves conceives of pulse code modulation
First Nobel awarded for work done at Bell Labs (electron diffraction)
First Nobel awarded for work done at Bell Labs (electron diffraction)
Stibitz builds the 'Model K' relay adder (calculator) on his kitchen table
The Voice of the City (Operators)
The Voice of the City (Operators)
Operator! 1938 video profiling operators.
Operator! 1938 video profiling operators.
Crossbar switching introduced
Crossbar switching introduced
National Federation of Telephone Workers (NFTW) formed
National Federation of Telephone Workers (NFTW) formed
The Voder - Homer Dudley (Bell Labs) 1939
The Voder - Homer Dudley (Bell Labs) 1939
p-n junction (transistor/solar precursor) invented at Bell Labs
A Modern Aladdin's Lamp, About Vacuum Tubes (Western Electric)
A Modern Aladdin's Lamp, About Vacuum Tubes (Western Electric)
Pennsylvania 6-5000 (Glenn Miller & His Orchestra)
Pennsylvania 6-5000 (Glenn Miller & His Orchestra)
Slideshow: Bell System Stats 1925-1940
Bell System Stats 1925-1940
Slideshow: 36 photos
Bell Labs moves to Murray Hill, NJ
Bell Labs moves to Murray Hill, NJ
Western Electric pivots to produce wartime systems
Western Electric pivots to produce wartime systems
Modern Caravans (Laying cross-country cable)
Modern Caravans (Laying cross-country cable)
First Black scientist hired at Bell Labs
Hedy Lamarr patents Secret Communications System
Newfoundland Long Lines, a WWII Film (U.S. Army / AT&T)
Newfoundland Long Lines, a WWII Film (U.S. Army / AT&T)
War and the Telephone (AT&T)
War and the Telephone (AT&T)
Telex service spreads around the world
Telex service spreads around the world
Television and The Telephone, Microwave Broadcasting
Television and The Telephone, Microwave Broadcasting
Telephone Courtesy
Telephone Courtesy
Its a Wonderful Life phone call
Its a Wonderful Life phone call
First mobile telephone service introduced, in St. Louis
First mobile telephone service introduced, in St. Louis
A Million Times a Day
A Million Times a Day
Western Electric Mobile Telephone Service video
Western Electric Mobile Telephone Service video
England recruits operators amid postwar shortage
England recruits operators amid postwar shortage
1947 NFTW telephone strike
1947 NFTW telephone strike
Communication Workers of America (CWA) formed
Communication Workers of America (CWA) formed
Transistor invented at Bell Labs
Transistor invented at Bell Labs
Movie Theater Newsreel (AT&T)
Movie Theater Newsreel (AT&T)
Crystal Clear
Crystal Clear
Bottle of Magic (The Vacuum Tube)
Bottle of Magic (The Vacuum Tube)
Sorry, Wrong Number
Sorry, Wrong Number
Automatic Electric acquires Gray Manufacturing Co.
Automatic Electric acquires Gray Manufacturing Co.
England catches up with postwar telephone demand
England catches up with postwar telephone demand
Telephone lineman on cover of Saturday Evening Post
Telephone lineman on cover of Saturday Evening Post
Oliver, Pierce and Shannon co-author 'The Philosophy of PCM'
Shannon publishes A Mathematical Theory of Communication
Instructional film for operators
Instructional film for operators
Cable to Cuba, Laying Undersea Cable (AT&T)
Cable to Cuba, Laying Undersea Cable (AT&T)
Telephone Blues (Sonny Terry)
Telephone Blues (Sonny Terry)
The Step-By-Step Switch
The Step-By-Step Switch
First direct-dialed transcontinental call
First direct-dialed transcontinental call
Direct long-distance dialing begins
Direct long-distance dialing begins
Lucy Gossips on the Phone
Lucy Gossips on the Phone
Claude Shannon demonstrates "Theseus" Machine Learning @ Bell Labs (High Quality)
Claude Shannon demonstrates "Theseus" Machine Learning @ Bell Labs (High Quality)
IT&T acquires Kellogg
IT&T acquires Kellogg
Pfann invents zone refining (melting), enabling purer silicon for transistors and semiconductors
Pfann invents zone refining (melting), enabling purer silicon for transistors and semiconductors
The Transistor (Bell System)
The Transistor (Bell System)
Transistors first used in telephone equipment
Karnaugh invents the Karnaugh Map
Dia M For Murder phone scene
Dia M For Murder phone scene
Now You Can Dial
Now You Can Dial
First practical solar cell developed, at Bell Labs
First practical solar cell developed, at Bell Labs
Dialing the Nation (AT&T)
Dialing the Nation (AT&T)
GTE Acquires Automatic Electric
AT&T settles U.S. antitrust suit
AT&T settles U.S. antitrust suit
Bell Labs scientists win Nobel Prize for the transistor
L2/Bell2 programming language launched
Hawkins co-invents low-cost polymer cable sheathing
Transatlantic telephone cable (TAT-1)
Transatlantic telephone cable (TAT-1)
Is Your Phone Tapped?
Is Your Phone Tapped?
Improved echo suppressors deployed
Joybubbles (Joe Engressia) discovers he can whistle at 2600 Hz.
A Surreal Look at Telephone Switching
A Surreal Look at Telephone Switching
Submarine Cable Systems Development
Submarine Cable Systems Development
Queen Calls Edinburgh
Queen Calls Edinburgh
Masers in development at Bell Labs
Masers in development at Bell Labs
Bell Labs engineers conceive Project Echo (first passive communications satellite)
Cable to the Continent, the Second Transatlantic Telephone Cable
Cable to the Continent, the Second Transatlantic Telephone Cable
Modern Telephone
Modern Telephone
Kahng and Atalla invent the MOSFET
T1 digital carrier system developed
Automatic (no operator) Telex service launches in England
Automatic (no operator) Telex service launches in England
The Far Sound, a History of Long Distance Communications (AT&T)
The Far Sound, a History of Long Distance Communications (AT&T)
MATTER WAVES & PHYSICS BELL LABS FILM w/ ALAN HOLDEN & LESTER GERMER SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS 19534
MATTER WAVES & PHYSICS  BELL LABS FILM w/ ALAN HOLDEN & LESTER GERMER  SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS 19534
Astronaut Scott Carpenter talks to JFK
Astronaut Scott Carpenter talks to JFK
JFK calls Eisenhower about the Cuban Missile Crisis
JFK calls Eisenhower about the Cuban Missile Crisis
JFK calls Eisenhower as the missile crisis ends
JFK calls Eisenhower as the missile crisis ends
JFK calls Truman about ending the missile crisis
JFK calls Truman about ending the missile crisis
JFK on integrating the University of Mississippi
JFK on integrating the University of Mississippi
Beechwood 4-5789 (The Marvelettes)
Beechwood 4-5789 (The Marvelettes)
Don't Hang Up (The Orlons)
Don't Hang Up (The Orlons)
Christo wraps a phone
Christo wraps a phone
West and Sessler invent the foil electret microphone
Bell Labs launches Telstar, the first active communications satellite
Bell Labs launches Telstar, the first active communications satellite
JFK angry call about furniture
JFK angry call about furniture
LBJ talks to J. Edgar Hoover after JFK assassination
LBJ talks to J. Edgar Hoover after JFK assassination
LBJ calls Jackie Kennedy: You give me strength
LBJ calls Jackie Kennedy: You give me strength
LBJ pressures Richard Russell to serve on the Warren Commission
LBJ pressures Richard Russell to serve on the Warren Commission
LBJ and Gerald Ford on the Warren Commission
LBJ and Gerald Ford on the Warren Commission
LBJ and Katharine Graham
LBJ and Katharine Graham
JFK and RFK phone call (Bay of Pigs review)
JFK and RFK phone call (Bay of Pigs review)
JFK calls Sen. Mansfield about the Test Ban Treaty
JFK calls Sen. Mansfield about the Test Ban Treaty
JFK and Robert McNamara on defense matters
JFK and Robert McNamara on defense matters
Lonesome 7-7203 (Hawkshaw Hawkins)
Lonesome 7-7203 (Hawkshaw Hawkins)
Touch-Tone dialing introduced
Touch-Tone dialing introduced
LBJ orders pants from Haggar Slacks
LBJ orders pants from Haggar Slacks
LBJ and McNamara on the Gulf of Tonkin
LBJ and McNamara on the Gulf of Tonkin
LBJ and Senator Russell on Civil Rights and Vietnam
LBJ and Senator Russell on Civil Rights and Vietnam
LBJ calls Robert F. Kennedy
LBJ calls Robert F. Kennedy
LBJ and Senator Russell on doubts about Vietnam
LBJ and Senator Russell on doubts about Vietnam
Dr. Strangelove Phone Call with Russian President
Dr. Strangelove Phone Call with Russian President
TPC-1: First transpacific telephone cable
TPC-1: First transpacific telephone cable
INTELSAT founded for global satellite communications
INTELSAT founded for global satellite communications
John Draper discovers the Cap’n Crunch cereal box whistles emit 2600 Hz
Bell Canada acquires Northern Electric
Wood publishes 'Crystals and Light'
Wood publishes 'Crystals and Light'
Weiss develops hidden line removal algorithm for curved surfaces
Electronic Switching System Debut (Bell System)
Electronic Switching System Debut (Bell System)
Genesis of the Transistor (Bell Labs)
Genesis of the Transistor (Bell Labs)
LBJ calls Adam Clayton Powell
LBJ calls Adam Clayton Powell
LBJ calls Martin Luther King Jr. on voting rights
LBJ calls Martin Luther King Jr. on voting rights
Get Smart Shoe Phone
Get Smart Shoe Phone
LBJ and George Wallace on the Selma march
LBJ and George Wallace on the Selma march
Early Bird: First commercial geostationary satellite
Early Bird: First commercial geostationary satellite
World's first electronic telephone switch (No. 1 ESS) installed
World's first electronic telephone switch (No. 1 ESS) installed
Lady Bird Johnson makes first Picturephone call
Lady Bird Johnson makes first Picturephone call
Penzias and Wilson discover cosmic microwave background radiation
Tukey co-invents the Fast Fourier transform (FFT)
Lucky invents the adaptive equalizer
Answering the Batphone
Answering the Batphone
LBJ and Eisenhower on Vietnam
LBJ and Eisenhower on Vietnam
634-5789 (Wilson Pickett)
634-5789 (Wilson Pickett)
842-3089 Call My Name (Etta James)
842-3089 Call My Name (Etta James)
Bell Labs researchers launch Experiments in Art and Technology
Bell Labs researchers launch Experiments in Art and Technology
Kao proves fiber optics can carry telephone signals
The Astonishing, Unfailing Bell System
The Astonishing, Unfailing Bell System
Nokia Corporation formed by three-way merger
LBJ and Mayor Richard Daley
LBJ and Mayor Richard Daley
LBJ confronts Nixon about Anna Chennault / Vietnam peace talks
LBJ confronts Nixon about Anna Chennault / Vietnam peace talks
LBJ-Nixon post-election call
LBJ-Nixon post-election call
Under London Trunk Telephone
Under London Trunk Telephone
Wichita Lineman (Glen Campbell)
Wichita Lineman (Glen Campbell)
Carterfone decision lets consumers attach their own telephone equipment
Carterfone decision lets consumers attach their own telephone equipment
Nixon calls Armstrong/Aldrin on the moon
Nixon calls Armstrong/Aldrin on the moon
Pollution (Western Electric)
Pollution (Western Electric)
Lily Tomlin makes calls on Laugh In ('One Ringy Dingy')
Lily Tomlin makes calls on Laugh In ('One Ringy Dingy')
First 'plugless' digital operator stations (TSPS), in Morristown, NJ
First 'plugless' digital operator stations (TSPS), in Morristown, NJ
Boyle and Smith invent the charge-coupled device
Thompson and Ritchie develop the UNIX operating system
Moon Orbit Communications, Apollo 8 (AT&T)
Moon Orbit Communications, Apollo 8 (AT&T)
Debut of the First Picturephone (AT&T)
Debut of the First Picturephone (AT&T)
London Telephone Exchange
London Telephone Exchange
AT&T introduces customer dialing of international calls
AT&T introduces customer dialing of international calls
Nixon and Reagan: "Those monkeys" call about the UN
Nixon and Reagan: "Those monkeys" call about the UN
Nixon and Kissinger on the China initiative (early planning)
Nixon and Kissinger on the China initiative (early planning)
Nixon and Kissinger on Laos & China
Nixon and Kissinger on Laos & China
Nixon and Mitchell pick Rehnquist for Supreme Court
Nixon and Mitchell pick Rehnquist for Supreme Court
Nixon and Mitchell on a woman on the Supreme Court
Nixon and Mitchell on a woman on the Supreme Court
LBJ-Nixon Christmas Day call
LBJ-Nixon Christmas Day call
Bless The Telephone (Labi Siffre)
Bless The Telephone (Labi Siffre)
First consumer answering machine (PhoneMate)
First consumer answering machine (PhoneMate)
Job and Wozniak start building and selling blue boxes
Hoover invents computerized call switching
All Kinds of People (AT&T)
All Kinds of People (AT&T)
Nixon and Kissinger on the opening to China
Nixon and Kissinger on the opening to China
Nixon and Kissinger: "Kick the s*it out of North Vietnam"
Nixon and Kissinger: "Kick the s*it out of North Vietnam"
Nixon calls Mark Felt (Deep Throat) after Wallace shooting
Nixon calls Mark Felt (Deep Throat) after Wallace shooting
Operator (Jim Croce)
Operator (Jim Croce)
Bell Labs introduces the C programming language
Joel patents cellular call handoff
Reagan calls Nixon supporting him during Watergate
Reagan calls Nixon supporting him during Watergate
Nixon breaks down over Watergate firings (Bill Rogers)
Nixon breaks down over Watergate firings (Bill Rogers)
Drunk Nixon calls Haldeman over Watergate
Drunk Nixon calls Haldeman over Watergate
Nixon calls Pat Nixon: Vietnam War ends
Nixon calls Pat Nixon: Vietnam War ends
Ring Ring (ABBA)
Ring Ring (ABBA)
Carl Bernstein on the phone at the Washington Post
Carl Bernstein on the phone at the Washington Post
Sloane publishes 'A Handbook of Integer Sequences"
Sloane publishes 'A Handbook of Integer Sequences"
Cooper makes the first handheld cell phone call
Metcalfe invents Ethernet
Careers: Service Representative (AT&T)
Careers: Service Representative (AT&T)
Careers: Line Worker (AT&T)
Careers: Line Worker (AT&T)
Careers: Toll Operator (AT&T)
Careers: Toll Operator (AT&T)
The Engineer (AT&T)
The Engineer (AT&T)
Carol Burnett: Phone Operator
Carol Burnett: Phone Operator
Rikki Don't Lose That Number (Steely Dan)
Rikki Don't Lose That Number (Steely Dan)
Cerf and Kahn design TCP/IP
President Ford speaks to Apollo-Soyuz astronauts
President Ford speaks to Apollo-Soyuz astronauts
Lilly Tomlin (Ernestine) on The Cher Show
Lilly Tomlin (Ernestine) on The Cher Show
Operator (Manhattan Transfer)
Operator (Manhattan Transfer)
NY Tel publishes famous phone book cover
NY Tel publishes famous phone book cover
Taxi Driver phone call scene
Taxi Driver phone call scene
A 1976 interview with former Bell Labs scientist John R. Pierce
A 1976 interview with former Bell Labs scientist John R. Pierce
First digital switch (No. 4 ESS) deployed
First digital switch (No. 4 ESS) deployed
Single Sideband, Microwave Transmission (AT&T)
Single Sideband, Microwave Transmission (AT&T)
Design Line Promo (AT&T)
Design Line Promo (AT&T)
Lightwave (AT&T)
Lightwave (AT&T)
Telephone Line (Electric Light Orchestra)
Telephone Line (Electric Light Orchestra)
Telephone Man (Meri Wilson)
Telephone Man (Meri Wilson)
High Anxiety phone scene
High Anxiety phone scene
Japan achieves nationwide automatic telephone service
"The Social Impact of The Telephone" published (Ithiel de Sola Pool)
"The Social Impact of The Telephone" published (Ithiel de Sola Pool)
Anderson wins Nobel in physics (electronic structure of magnetic and disordered systems)
Anderson wins Nobel in physics (electronic structure of magnetic and disordered systems)
MacWilliams and Sloane author 'The Theory of Error-Correcting Codes'
Bailey becomes first woman to lead a department at Bell Labs
Telephone Office Planning and Engineering System (Bell Labs)
Telephone Office Planning and Engineering System (Bell Labs)
Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS)
Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS)
The Copper Trail (AT&T)
The Copper Trail (AT&T)
Good-Bye, Central
Good-Bye, Central
Phone Phreak Captain Crunch — Rare 1978 Interview
Phone Phreak Captain Crunch — Rare 1978 Interview
Hanging on the Telephone (Blondie)
Hanging on the Telephone (Blondie)
5.7.0.5. (City Boy)
5.7.0.5. (City Boy)
Interview with Nobel Laureates Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias - AT&T Archives
Interview with Nobel Laureates Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias - AT&T Archives
Northern Telecom DMS-100 digital switch
First trial of Bell Labs' cellular communication system begins
First cellular test network
First cellular test network
Tour of AT&T's Network Operations Center (AT&T)
Tour of AT&T's Network Operations Center (AT&T)
How Pacific Bell Prepared for West Coast Earthquakes
How Pacific Bell Prepared for West Coast Earthquakes
Person of Interest - Finch Phone Phreaking scene
Person of Interest - Finch Phone Phreaking scene
Switchboard Susan (Nick Lowe)
Switchboard Susan (Nick Lowe)
London Calling (The Clash)
London Calling (The Clash)
6060-842 (The B-52s)
6060-842 (The B-52s)
Bell Labs creates first single-chip digital signal processor (DSP)
Inventing the Negative Feedback Amplifier (AT&T)
Inventing the Negative Feedback Amplifier (AT&T)
We Make Telephones (Western Electric)
We Make Telephones (Western Electric)
Call Me (Blondie)
Call Me (Blondie)
AT&T Archives: Invention of the First Electric Computer
AT&T Archives: Invention of the First Electric Computer
Siemens debuts digital telephone switching
Minitel launches
Minitel launches
Neighbors prank call scene
Neighbors prank call scene
867-5309/Jenny (Tommy Tutone)
867-5309/Jenny (Tommy Tutone)
Nordic Mobile Telephone network launches
Nordic Mobile Telephone network launches
British Telecom separates from Post Office
British Telecom separates from Post Office
Hayes launches the PC modem
UNIX: Making Computers Easier To Use (Bell Labs)
UNIX: Making Computers Easier To Use (Bell Labs)
ET phones home
ET phones home
777-9311 (The Time)
777-9311 (The Time)
AT&T's workforce peaks at 1,009,000
AT&T's workforce peaks at 1,009,000
AT&T antitrust settlement
AT&T antitrust settlement
Judge Greene orders breakup of Bell System
Viewtron Introduction, Viewdata Corporation (AT&T)
Viewtron Introduction, Viewdata Corporation (AT&T)
Reagan calls Margaret Thatcher to apologize
Reagan calls Margaret Thatcher to apologize
SNL: Lilly Tomlin does a Ma Bell house call
SNL: Lilly Tomlin does a Ma Bell house call
WarGames (1983) — Payphone soda-tab hack scene
WarGames (1983) — Payphone soda-tab hack scene
WarGames (1983) — War Dialing scene
WarGames (1983) — War Dialing scene
Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair) (Sheena Easton)
Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair) (Sheena Easton)
1983 Telephone Strike
1983 Telephone Strike
1983 Telephone Strike
1983 Telephone Strike
Frenkiel helps launch commercial cellular service
Speedy Cutover Service, SXS to ESS (AT&T)
Speedy Cutover Service, SXS to ESS (AT&T)
How to Install Modular Jacks by Yourself (AT&T)
How to Install Modular Jacks by Yourself (AT&T)
Reagan calls Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts (STS-41D)
Reagan calls Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts (STS-41D)
I Just Called to Say I Love You (Stevie Wonder)
I Just Called to Say I Love You (Stevie Wonder)
Mr. Telephone Man (New Edition)
Mr. Telephone Man (New Edition)
Operator (Midnight Star)
Operator (Midnight Star)
Nightmare on Elm Street
Nightmare on Elm Street
NTT launches world's first ISDN service
Bell System breakup takes effect
Bell System breakup takes effect
Designing, Building and Testing the Trimline Phone (AT&T)
Designing, Building and Testing the Trimline Phone (AT&T)
Reagan calls Nellie Gray and the March for Life rally
Reagan calls Nellie Gray and the March for Life rally
After Hours phone call scene
After Hours phone call scene
Don't Lose My Number (Phil Collins)
Don't Lose My Number (Phil Collins)
Sex Over The Phone (Village People)
Sex Over The Phone (Village People)
NTT privatized in Japan
NTT privatized in Japan
Siemens launches first mobile phone
Siemens launches first mobile phone
C++ programming language released
Atal and Schroeder develop code-excited linear prediction algorithm
Ferris Bueller prank call
Ferris Bueller prank call
Calling America (Electric Light Orchestra)
Calling America (Electric Light Orchestra)
McCaw builds the largest U.S. cellular carrier
Wall Street "wake-up call"
Wall Street "wake-up call"
Telephone Call From Istanbul (Tom Waits)
Telephone Call From Istanbul (Tom Waits)
Inventing the Laser (Bell Labs)
Inventing the Laser (Bell Labs)
TAT-8: First transatlantic fiber optic cable
Keith Haring Paints Pop Shop Phones
Keith Haring Paints Pop Shop Phones
100th Anniversary of the Payphone
100th Anniversary of the Payphone
Callin' Baton Rouge (New Grass Revival)
Callin' Baton Rouge (New Grass Revival)
TPC-3: First transpacific fiber optic cable
GSM specification completed
GSM specification completed
The Simpsons: Jacques Strap Prank Call
The Simpsons: Jacques Strap Prank Call
The Simpsons: Al Coholic Prank Call
The Simpsons: Al Coholic Prank Call
The Simpsons: Oliver Clothesoff Prank Call
The Simpsons: Oliver Clothesoff Prank Call
The Simpsons: Seymour Butz Prank Call
The Simpsons: Seymour Butz Prank Call
The Simpsons: Mike Rotch Prank Call
The Simpsons: Mike Rotch Prank Call
Calling Elvis (Dire Straits)
Calling Elvis (Dire Straits)
SS7 signaling becomes widespread
French PTT becomes France Telecom
The Simpsons: Hugh Jazz Prank Call
The Simpsons: Hugh Jazz Prank Call
The Simpsons: Bea O Problem Prank Call
The Simpsons: Bea O Problem Prank Call
The Simpsons: Amanda Hugginkiss Prank Call
The Simpsons: Amanda Hugginkiss Prank Call
The Simpsons: Ivana Tinkle Prank Call
The Simpsons: Ivana Tinkle Prank Call
Sneakers (1992) — Whistler phone-hacking scene
Sneakers (1992) — Whistler phone-hacking scene
First SMS Message sent
First SMS Message sent
Caller ID becomes widespread
Caller ID becomes widespread
The Jerky Boys: Who the hell is Frank Rizzo?
The Jerky Boys: Who the hell is Frank Rizzo?
Star 69 (R.E.M.)
Star 69 (R.E.M.)
Seinfeld: Kramer Becomes The Moviefone Man
Seinfeld: Kramer Becomes The Moviefone Man
Pierre Brassard pranks Queen Elizabeth II
Pierre Brassard pranks Queen Elizabeth II
Deutsche Telekom AG becomes independent company
Northern Telecom becomes Nortel
VoIP demonstrated commercially by VocalTec Communications
Homer Simpson makes calls (Robodialer episode)
Homer Simpson makes calls (Robodialer episode)
Jerry Maguire "Show me the money"
Jerry Maguire "Show me the money"
Swingers phone call scene
Swingers phone call scene
Phony Calls ("Weird Al" Yankovic)
Phony Calls ("Weird Al" Yankovic)
Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods)
Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods)
Telecommunications Act of 1996
France Telecom privatized
Croak pioneers Voice over IP at AT&T
The Secret History of Hacking (Discovery Channel doc)
The Secret History of Hacking (Discovery Channel doc)
Phil Lapsley: History of Phone Phreaking 1960–80 (The Last HOPE 2008)
Phil Lapsley: History of Phone Phreaking 1960–80 (The Last HOPE 2008)
Phil Lapsley: Cats and Mice — The Next HOPE 2010
Phil Lapsley: Cats and Mice — The Next HOPE 2010
Captain Crunch — A Historical Look at Phreaking (HITB 2012)
Captain Crunch — A Historical Look at Phreaking (HITB 2012)
Unboxing Steve Wozniak's Blue Box (Henry Ford Museum)
Unboxing Steve Wozniak's Blue Box (Henry Ford Museum)
Steve Wozniak Phreaks Out On The History Of Hacking
Steve Wozniak Phreaks Out On The History Of Hacking
Slideshow: Telephone co. stock certificates
Telephone co. stock certificates
Slideshow: 25 photos