1876    Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone, as does Elisha Gray.

1876    Alexander Graham Bell is granted a patent for an invention he calls the telephone beating Antonio Meucci by four hours.

1876    Alexander Graham Bell makes the first successful telephone call by saying "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."

1877    Alexander Graham Bell installs the world's first commercial telephone service in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

1927    The first transatlantic telephone call is made – from New York City to London.

1951    Direct-dial coast-to-coast telephone service begins in the United States.

1963    The first push-button telephone goes into service.

1990    AT&T's long distance telephone network suffers a cascade switching failure.

2002    Antonio Meucci is acknowledged as the first inventor of the telephone by the United States Congress.