The telephone has played a central role in shaping the way we communicate. From the telegraph in the 19th century through the mobile phone of today, the technology of the telephone has drastically altered how people work, how they keep in touch with friends and loved ones, and how they organize their daily lives. It has also been crucial in enabling governments and large organizations to extend their influence, both within and across nations, and has required wide-ranging changes in the law and in business practices. This volume in the Greenwood Technographies series examines the life story of the telephone and shows how this ubiquitous technology so completely impacts our lives. The Telephone: A Life Story of a Technology discusses significant developments in the technological and social lives of people during the history of the telephone: The telegraph (1830s-1870s) and its impact on the expansion of empires The invention of the telephone, and the early designs and priority disputes between such inventors as Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray The spread of the telephone, and the emergence of Universal Service The revolutionary impact of the mobile phone The volume includes a glossary of terms, a timeline, and a bibliography of the most useful resources for further research.