Evolution of communication

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.

Close-up of carrier pigeon perched on wooden railing, symbolizing the origins of long-distance communication with homing pigeons in ancient messaging 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.

Early 20th-century inventor operating a vintage television prototype with rotary dial, illustrating the development of practical public broadcast technology

1927

Television: The first practical television system was demonstrated by Philo Farnsworth.

Person using smartphone indoors, close-up of hands in black t-shirt.

1936

Public Television Broadcasting: The BBC began regular television transmissions.

Early wireless radio receiver featuring vacuum tubes and analog controls, representing pioneering communication technology by Tesla and Marconi

1946

Mobile Radio Telephone Service: The first commercial mobile radio telephone service was introduced in the United States.

Engineer operating early computer systems in a historic data center with ARPANET network diagrams on the wall

1969

ARPANET: The precursor to the internet, ARPANET, sent its first message, marking the beginning of the digital communication era.

Martin Cooper in suit holding first-generation mobile phone, illustrating the world’s first mobile phone call in telecommunications history.

1973

First Mobile Phone Call: Martin Cooper places the world’s first mobile phone call.

Screenshot of the original World Wide Web project home page with green terminal text, representing the launch of Tim Berners-Lee’s first web browser.

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.

Hand holding classic cell phone, representing the IDT Callback service that revolutionized international calling by reducing costs.

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.

Close-up of smartphone screen with Google, Gmail, Maps, and YouTube app icons, illustrating widespread adoption of Google’s digital ecosystem.

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.

Person holding smartphone and texting, illustrating launch of commercial mobile SMS services and start of business text messaging.

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.

Hand holding iPhone displaying home screen, illustrating Apple’s announcement of RCS support for advanced messaging capabilities.

2023

RCS Support: Apple announces support for RCS, further enhancing the capabilities of messaging on their devices.