Its funny how things change over time, and their importance of impact on people. 1844, the first telegram was transmitted from Baltimore to Washington DC. The era of long distance communication was born. Military commanders used this tool to issue orders and receive information. Businesses were able to open remote offices in the “wild west”. People in far flung places could send messages back and forth nearly instantly. Undersea cables were laid to utilize the telegraph to connect countries and continents.
The method of communications got better as technology increased. The speed and accuracy of the telegraph improved. Cables were replaced by two-pair conductors and voice communication was born. The world drove forward, long distance communications standing on the shoulders of Samuel Morse’s first telegraph message of "What hath God wrought".
In 162 years since this start, we have redundant cables connecting every place on earth. Information is carried by light and electrical pulses. We have extended our communications to the heavens with an every increasing number of satellites. We communicate wireless, through voice, through images, through text. The internet technology has its roots in the telegraph service.
Like many people, I saw the new blip about Western Union. I dismissed it and moved on with my newer communications. But, upon further reflection, I decided that this is worthy of more thought.
On January 26, 2006, Western Union has discontinued its telegraph service.
I didn’t even realize that this service was still available as a consumer product. I had thought it was relegated to the back room of hobbyists and historians. I am amazed that the you could still send a telegraph in 2005 (and the first few weeks of 2006). Who would you send it to? Did Western Union still deliver it like in the old black and white movies? Did they forward it as an email to the receivers account? Could you call in and have the message read back to you?
Nonetheless, it still shows the power of communication. A 162 year old service was still in operation, even with all the technology advancements.
RIP Telegraph
I would love to have been in on that executive decision. "We have spent thousands of dollars, and coutless hours analyzing this decision. The time has come to pull the plug on the telegraph."
DUH!
Posted by crensmeyer | Monday, February 06, 2006 12:20:08 PM
I just wonder how much it cost to maintain it? And how much it cost to remove it out of WU's service catalogs (updating the menu pricing in all the retail locations, hardware decommisions, staff reassignemnts etc)
Posted by The Tobic | Monday, February 06, 2006 1:41:39 PM