Search results
A telephone, colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that permits two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are too far apart to be easily heard directly.
- Overview
- The telephone instrument
- Working components of the telephone
A telephone is an instrument designed for the simultaneous transmission and reception of the human voice. Telephones are inexpensive and simple to operate, and they offer an immediate, personal type of communication. Billions of telephones are in use around the world.
When was the telephone patented?
On February 14, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell applied for a U.S. patent for the telephone. On March 7, 1876, Bell was awarded U.S. patent 174,465. This patent is often referred to as the most valuable ever issued by the U.S. Patent Office, as it described not only the telephone instrument but also the concept of a telephone system.
When was the telephone introduced to the public?
One of the earliest demonstrations of the telephone occurred in June 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.
Who is credited as the inventor of the telephone?
The word telephone, from the Greek roots tēle, “far,” and phonē, “sound,” was applied as early as the late 17th century to the string telephone familiar to children, and it was later used to refer to the megaphone and the speaking tube, but in modern usage it refers solely to electrical devices derived from the inventions of Alexander Graham Bell a...
As it has since its early years, the telephone instrument is made up of the following functional components: a power source, a switch hook, a dialer, a ringer, a transmitter, a receiver, and an anti-sidetone circuit. These components are described in turn below.
Britannica Quiz
Philipp Reis, 1861, constructed the first telephone, today called the Reis telephone. Alexander Graham Bell was awarded the first U.S. patent for the invention of the telephone in 1876. Elisha Gray, 1876, designed a telephone using a water microphone in Highland Park, Illinois.
Jul 30, 2024 · Learn how the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray in the 1870s, and how they competed for the patent. Explore the early sound transmitters and receivers, and the concepts of telephony and telephone system.
Nov 9, 2009 · Learn about the life and achievements of Alexander Graham Bell, who revolutionized communication with his invention of the telephone. Find out how he overcame legal challenges, worked on other projects and helped the deaf community.
Sep 20, 2024 · The history of the telephone started in 1876 with Alexander Graham Bell’s invention, which made it possible to transmit speech over wires. Skip to content Menu
Jul 18, 2023 · Learn how telephones evolved from simple devices to complex networks that connect people around the world. Discover the invention of the telephone, the design of the phone, the types of wires and cables, and the digital calls.
