Today in Tech History

1914 – First Transcontinental Phone Call
The first test call is made on the newly completed transcontinental telephone line, taking place between New York and San Francisco. The last pole was erected and the line completed two days earlier on July 27^th, but commercial service did not start until January 25^th of the next year. The sixth month delay was due to AR&T wish to publicize the service in conjunction with San Francisco’s 1915 World Fair.

1947 – ENIAC was switched on after being transferred to the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. It operated continuously until October 2 1955.

1951 – A recording was made of Beethoven’s 9^th by EMI that eventually became used to justify the diameter of the CD.

1958 – President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

1996 – Mpath Interactive Acquires Catapult Entertainment
In an example of the fast-growing Internet software industry, Mpath Interactive acquired Catapult Entertainment Inc. in an effort to establish itself in the online video game business. Neither company had been in business for more than a few years, nor had the online game industry, which has taken off with the availability of software to network computers so users can compete against each other in video games across wide distances.

2009 – Yahoo Search Sold to Microsoft
We dealt with the big buyout bid fight between Microsoft and Yahoo back in 205. Of course, the outcome was that Yahoo’s CEO Jerry Yang stepped down and Carol Bartz took the reigns. However, Carol did make a bold move in 2009 as she agreed to deal with Steve Ballmer. Microsoft would get Yahoo Search engine technologies and create a search engine for Yahoo. In return, Yahoo would handle advertising for premium search advertisers. This was ten year deal.