What is the history of the landline phone?

The landline phone, also known as a wired telephone, is a communication device that uses a wire or cable to transmit voice signals. It is considered one of the earliest inventions of the telephone, and its history can be traced back to the late 19th century.

Alexander Graham Bell is widely credited with inventing the first practical telephone in 1876. Bell's early telephones were considered luxurious and were typically only used by wealthy individuals and businesses. The first public telephone exchange was established in Connecticut in 1878, and by the 1880s, telephone lines were being laid across the United States.

By the early 1900s, telephones were becoming more common in households and businesses, and improvements were made to the technology. The rotary dial was introduced in the 1920s, which replaced the original method of calling by lifting the receiver and speaking to an operator. In the 1960s, touch-tone phones were introduced, which allowed for faster and more convenient dialing.

With the invention of cellular phones in the 1980s and 1990s, landline phones began to decline in popularity. However, they remain an important means of communication for many households and businesses around the world, particularly in areas with limited cellular coverage or internet connectivity.