There was a time when telegraphs were the preferred  form of long distance communication throughout the world.  By using Morse code and wire, text messages could be sent promptly, at a more affordable rate than long-distance phone calls.  Telegrams were also used extensively by the military to relay important messages and commands.  In recent years, the telegram has dramatically decreased in popularity.

On this day, January 26, in 2006, Western Union discontinued its telegram service.  The end of telegram service can be considered an important historical marker for the evolution of communication.  In a half a century, the telegram had declined from a primary means of communication to one that was more or less obsolete. In the 1980s, telephone providers made long distance calling much more affordable, which was the begining of the telegram’s fall from grace.  The telegram would ultimately be defeated by the introduction of fax machines and email towards the end of the 20th century.

For all intents and purposes, Western Union would end the use of telegrams in the United States, but there are some parts of the world that still use them.