| 1851 |
The New York and Mississippi
Valley Printing Telegraph Company, Western Union's predecessor, is formed by a
group of businessmen in Rochester, New York. |
| 1856 |
The New York and Mississippi
Valley Printing Telegraph Company changes its name to The Western Union Telegraph
Company, signifying the union of "western" telegraph lines with eastern lines
into one system, following acquisition of a series of competing telegraph systems. |
| 1861 |
Western Union completes the
first transcontinental telegraph line, providing fast communications during the
Civil War. |
| 1866 |
Introduced stock tickers,
providing brokerage firms with New York Stock Exchange quotations. |
| 1870 |
Launched Western Union time
service, which helped standardized time nationally. |
| 1871 |
Introduced Western Union®
Money TransferSM service nationally. |
| 1884 |
Named one of the original
stocks in the first Dow Jones Average. |
| 1914 |
Introduced the first consumer
charge card. |
| 1923 |
Introduced teletypewriters,
joining branches and individual companies. |
| 1933 |
Introduced singing telegrams. |
| 1935 |
Introduced first intercity
facsimile service. |
| 1943 |
Pioneered the first commercial
intercity microwave system. |
| 1958 |
Introduced TelexSM,
a direct-dial consumer to consumer teleprinter service. |
| 1964 |
Inaugurated transcontinental
microwave radio beam system, replacing poles and wires that spanned the continent.
|
| 1970 |
Introduced Western Union®
Mailgram® messages, delivered next day via postal service. |
| 1974 |
Launched Westar I, America's
first domestic communications satellite. |
| 1982 |
Became the first company
with five satellites in orbit. |
| 1989 |
Introduced the Quick Collect®
service, a system for creditors to secure fast collection of delinquent accounts
via flat-rate Money Transfers. Began rapid money transfer service outside North
America. |
| 1992 |
Introduced the Western Union®
Money OrderSM service. |
| 1993 |
Introduced "Dinero en Minutos®
(Money in Minutes) service", making funds available in minutes to Mexico after
being sent from the U.S. Introduced the Western Union® Phone Card® service,
the first branded, pre-paid and disposable telephone card offered in the U.S. |
| 1994 |
Western Union Financial Services,
Inc. acquired by First Financial Management Corporation. |
| 1995 |
First Financial Management
Corporation merges with First Data Corporation (NYSE: FDC). Western Union Financial
Services, Inc. becomes a First Data Corporation subsidiary. |
| 1996 |
Western Union opens North
America headquarters in Englewood, CO and maintains International and Commercial
Services headquarters in Paramus, NJ. In addition, Western Union continues to
expand its international presence with regional offices in Paris, Vienna and Hong
Kong. |
| 1998 |
The Western Union Money Transfer
service reached 50,000 Agent locations in over 160 countries worldwide, still
the world's largest money transfer network. International Regional Operating Centers
established in Brussels and Costa Rica. |
| 2001 |
The Western Union Money Transfer
service reached 100,000 Agent locations. Western Union International headquarters
established in Paris. |
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| First Data Corp | www.westernunion.com |
