Song 1 5 Yingxue Song Prof. Lloyd Ackert HIST 285 26 Apr 2015 The Birth of Telecommunication Introduction In 1876, alexander graham bell invented the telephone and filed for patents. However, he was not the only inventor of a device that could transmit speech electronically. There was also another inventor known as Elisha Gray, but because Bell made the first move to patent his invention he is believed to be the sole inventor of the phone and this consequently led to big battle of invention. Alexander was a teacher of the deaf, and his motivation for the invention was to create a device that would transmit messages over the wire intended to help the deaf learn now to speak . In the development, Bell began with a phonautograph machine from which he studied the sound waves it draws and could trace the vibrations. He was able to produce electrical waves that corresponded with the sound waves he needed and from there he develop a model that practically demonstrated his ideas . With the help electrical engineer Thomas Watford, he was able to the physical model of his ideas. He subsequently incorporated additional ideas in his invention and after being granted the patents followed the global awareness and acceptance of the telephone. Bell offered his patents to the western union for $ 100000 but had difficulty in convincing the management that the telephone invention was a viable idea. The major setbacks were that the voice signals being sent were very weak, and they grew weaker the distance between the receiver and transmitter is long . They did not see the reason as to why anybody would want to use such a device when one can send clearly written messages to any part of the United States. They also did not see the device as ever capable of any improvements on the weak signal to produce a recognizable speech over long distances. Having made substantial improvements to the telegraph, Bells device was of no use to them. It, however, did not take long before they realized that technology was evolving, there was need to embrace change in order to continue being relevant in business and by 1882, Bell was offered controlling interests in western union. It was in 1876 that Bell conducted a successful two-way talk over the telephone between Cambridge port and Boston two miles apart . The first switchboard was developed. Bell and Watson later formed bell Telephone Company, where the bell was the electrician and Watson, was the superintendent. By 1880, the bell company had assembled over 30000 phones that were already in use. One year later bell company purchased western electric, and that is how bell gained the controlling interests of Bell Company. In 1884, the bell company expanded its operations to long distances when it opened services between New York and Boston that is 235 miles apart. One year later, Bell Telephone Company started a subsidiary company called American telephone and Telegraph Company. By 1890, Bell Company had alre.