The History of Telecommunications in Business
The world has been greatly changed by telecommunications. In fact, some people consider the history of telecommunications in business to be one of the greatest stories about technological progress. After all, even the average person today is now able to communicate with people from the other side of the world.
- In 1844, the telegraph machine was invented. This was considered the beginning of the telecommunications "world." It was now possible to use electric wires to almost instantaneously send messages long distances.
- In 1856, the first major telegraph company was created. Western Union soon dominated the entire industry.
- In 1867, the trans-Atlantic cable was built. This linked the U.S. and Europe together so that they could communicate instantaneously for the first time ever.
- In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell created the first telephone. This allowed for business affairs to be coordinated regardless of the distance between them. It also revolutionalized the way that different industries did business and helped to advance globalization.
- In 1877, Alexander Graham Bell formed the first telephone company. Bell Telephone soon dominated the telephone business and had no real competition until the U.S. government forcefully broke them up in the 1980s.
- In 1957, the first communications satellite was created. Sputnik was first used by telephone companies so that they could allow you to call long-distance across the world. Now you could communicate by voice with people who lived far away from you. Television would eventually come to use satellites as well. In doing so they formed the first truly global media. Today GPS depends upon the use of satellites as well.
- In 1990, the Internet was created. It has come to have a major economic impact upon people throughout the world. New industries and businesses are continuing to be created today. This has dramatically advanced globalization because now even if you own a small business it can operate on a global scale.