early 12c., one of the ecclesiastical princes who constitute the sacred college (short for cardinalis ecclesiae Romanae or episcopus cardinalis), from Latin cardinalis principal, chief, essential (see cardinal (adj.)). Ecclesiastical use began for the presbyters of the chief (cardinal) churches of Rome.
In 1889, the rotary telephone dial was invented by Almon B. Strowger , a Kansas City undertaker. The first dial exchange was installed at La Porte, Indiana, in 1892. In 1943, Philadelphia was the last major area to give up dual service.
Alexander Graham Bell is given credit by historians with the invention of the traditional telephone in 1876. Less than three decades later, on December 23 rd, 2000, Reginald Fessenden was able to make the worldâs first wireless phone call.hen Dr. Cooper made the call, Dr. Engel was standing on the street near the Manhattan Hilton hotel while there were a fair number of media personnel and press nearby to observe the event. After making the call, the first cell phone patent was granted on October 17 th, 1973.