Telecommunication is the first, and most robust network ever invented.  This may seem like a brazen and bold statement, but when examined closely, it is not the stuff of fantasy.  Prior to the invention and development of the internet, what other way could a person pick up a device, and “dial” a few numbers and end up seamlessly connected to someone across the vast expanse of a countryside? 

Early telephones were a local only affair, consisting of a box with a crank that would connect to a local operator who would literally connect a patch cable to complete a call.  Over time, as automation improved the job of switchboard operator was replaced.  Soon, touch-tones were introduced, which replaced the old rotary dial phones.  Phones were connected to a wall jack, and sometimes, the only way to have a private conversation was to physically drag the telephone into another room.  Now, the idea of a hard-wired phone in a house or apartment is generally treated as a relic.

One problem with early telephone technology was that it was billed in the same way that transportation is billed.  That is, you paid a fee based on the distance of the call.  Of course, any time money is involved, there is a criminal mind at work to try to derive a “discount”.  This gave rise to some of the earliest “hackers”, who practiced a technique known as phone-phreaking, all in an effort to get their calls for free.  Phone technology has come magnificently far from the days of people whistling for free service.  However, the growth of phone technology has also made it a prime target for crimes far greater than the mere theft of long-distance service.

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