Explore the evolution of communication from ancient methods to the digital era in our timeline.
These key milestones have shaped our interconnected world, enabling us to continue innovating our SMS and Voice services.
5th Century BCE
Carrier Pigeon: Persians credited for the ingenious use of carrier pigeons.
1838
Electrical Telegraph: Samuel B. Morse pioneers the electrical telegraph.
1876
Telephones: Alexander Graham Bell revolutionises communication with the invention of the telephone.
1893 – 1896
Wireless Radio Wave communication: Tesla and Marconi lay the foundation for wireless radio wave communication.
1927
Television: The first practical television system was demonstrated by Philo Farnsworth.
1936
Public Television Broadcasting: The BBC began regular television transmissions.
1946
Mobile Radio Telephone Service: The first commercial mobile radio telephone service was introduced in the United States.
1969
ARPANET: The precursor to the internet, ARPANET, sent its first message, marking the beginning of the digital communication era.
1973
First Mobile Phone Call: Martin Cooper places the world’s first mobile phone call.
1983
The Birth of the Internet: The internet is officially born.
1989
World Wide Web: Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, revolutionising the way information is shared and accessed.
1991
Callback Service: IDT develops the Callback service, considerably lowering call charges and revolutionising international call costs.
1992
First Text Message: Neil Papworth sends the inaugural text message on the Vodafone Network.
1998
Google Founded: The search engine giant Google was founded, significantly impacting information retrieval and online communication.
2003
Net2Phone Introduce VOIP: Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) hits the mainstream.
2003
Start of Business SMS: The first commercial mobile SMS service is launched.
2004
Facebook Launch: Facebook is launched, marking the beginning of social media communication.
2005
YouTube Launch: YouTube revolutionised video sharing and became a major platform for communication through video content.
2007
Smartphones: Apple introduced the iPhone, combining phone, media player, and internet communication in a single device.
2010
Instagram Launch: The photo-sharing platform Instagram was launched, adding a new dimension to social media communication.
2013
WhatsApp Acquisition: Facebook acquires WhatsApp, a popular messaging app, highlighting the growing importance of mobile messaging.
2014
Mobile Connections Surpass Global Population: The number of mobile connections surpasses the global population.
2016
5G Technology: The first commercial deployments of 5G technology began, promising faster and more reliable wireless communication.
2023
RCS Support: Apple announces support for RCS, further enhancing the capabilities of messaging on their devices.