Part 4/11:
The emergence of the Bell Telephone Company was soon met with formidable opposition from Western Union, the leading telegraph service provider at the time. Upon learning about Bell's patents, Western Union, ironically, dismissed the opportunity to acquire them, favoring their belief in the potential of Elisha Gray's inventions. This misstep would haunt Western Union as Bell's technology began to flourish.
Despite production challenges and lagging development, the telephone's rise was unstoppable. Bell's equipment found its first rental customer in Roswell Downer, which triggered a wave of demand. The installation of a central switchboard in January 1878 paved the way for network-wide connectivity, transforming the telephone from a novelty to an essential business tool.