1876
At age 29, Alexander Graham Bell receives the first patent for a device to “transmit sounds telegraphically.”
1963
AT&T rings in the 10-button touch-tone phone. The * and # symbols aren’t added to keypads until 1968.
1983
Commercial cellular systems begin to appear. Six years later, the first flip phone goes on sale for $3,000.
2009
Users of the Internet call service Skype total 521 million, more than the population of the European Union.
2010
Apple sells its 40 millionth iPhone, three years after the “smart” phone is launched.
This article was first published in May 2010. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.
