2015 Event Parts of the U.S. Patriot Act, including authorization of bulk phone data collection by the National Security Administration, expire due to lack of agreement in the Senate regarding extension 2015 Event The U.S. Internal Revenue Service warns of an increase in taxpayer phone scams threatening victims unless they pay a given amount with a debit or prepaid credit card; over 366,000 people have been swindled of over $15 million since 2013 2014 Event Taxi service company Uber expands its presence in Latin America by partnering with Carlos Slim's cell phone company America Movil to place the Uber app on mobil phones throughout Mexico 2014 Event Apple's new iPhone will include a near-field communication chip, making mobile payments easier; the phone will be released for sale later this September 2014 Event Rebekah Brooks has been declared not guilty, and Editor Andy Coulson has been pronounced guilty in the 'News of the World' phone hacking case 2014 Event Internet retailer Amazon, Inc. releases its own 'Fire' smart phone; the phone will allow users to connect directly to Amazon.com to shop for items they scan or identify in video and audio clips on the device 2014 Event The U.S. National Security Agency confirms that it has been using a legal loophole to search phone calls and emails of Americans without a warrant 2014 Event The Brazilian government is auctioning part of the nation's television bandwidth spectrum to mobile phone companies, providing much-needed capacity to meet wireless demand 2014 Event As part of its increasing move into mobile presence, Facebook announces that it will purchase WhatsApp for $19 billion; younger users seem to prefer communicating with mobile apps, which allow them to avoid cell phone texting charges 2014 Event Responding to privacy concerns raised by former spy contractor Edward Snowden's NSA disclosures, U.S. President Barack Obama announces reforms to NSA phone surveillance 2013 Event In an effort to repair strained relations after news reports cite the U.S. spied on Chancellor Angela Merke's cell phone, President Barack Obama congratulates the Chancellor on the formation of her new cabinet, and invites her to Washington 2013 Event The U.S. Ambassador is summoned by Germany over suspicions that the U.S. monitored the cell phone calls of German Chancellor Angela Merkel 2013 Event A report in Le Monde prompts the Foreign Minister of France, Laurent Fabius, to summons the U.S. ambassador over allegations that the U.S. spied on millions of French phone conversations 2013 Event The News Corporation phone hacking scandal results in the company's agreement to pay $139 million to American shareholders 2012 Event Following the News International phone hacking scandal, James Murdock resigns as Chairman of BskyB 2012 Event New Corporation announces its launch of 'The Sun on Sunday' to replace 'News of the World' which shut down due to a phone hacking controversy 2011 Event Sprint Nextel reportedly pays $20 billion for the exclusive rights to Apple's next mobile cell phone 2011 Event The House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee recalls four News International executives for further examination of phone hacking within the organization 2011 Event Chief executive of News International, Rebekah Brooks, resigns as a result of the News International phone hacking scandal 2011 Event U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron announces an inquiry into News of the World, allegedly involved in a phone hacking scandal 2011 Event The cell phone of Osama bin Laden's courier is reported to contain contacts with Harakat-ul-Mujahadeen, suggesting potential ties to Pakistan's intelligence agencies 2011 Event After scientists reviewed studies on cell phone safety, the World Health Organization classifies cell phone radiation as a carcinogenic hazard, possibly carcinogenic to humans 2011 Event Microsoft announces it plans to purchase Skype, an Internet phone service, for $8.5 billion 2010 Event A court settlement determines Verizon must pay $25 million to the U.S. Treasury for overcharging 15 million cell phone customers 1995 Death Yahya Ayyash, nicknamed 'the Engineer,' chief bomb maker for Hamas, most wanted man in Israel, caused deaths of 90 Israelis, assassinated by Isreal's Shin Bet with a booby trapped cellular phone 1993 Event Horse Racing Breeders' Cup Champs: Arcangues, Brocco, Cardmania, Hollywood Wildcat, Kotashaan, Lure, Phone Chatter at Belmont 1993 Event Horse Racing Breeders' Cup Champs: Arcangues, Brocco, Cardmania, Hollywood Wildcat, Kotashaan, Lure, Phone Chatter 1992 Event FCC votes to allow competition for local phone service 1990 Death Ben Frank, actor (Don't Answer the Phone), dies of heart attack at 56 1973 Event John Lennon sues U.S. government to admit FBI is tapping his phone 1972 Event John Lennon says his phone is tapped by FBI on Dick Cavett Show 1968 Event Country's 1st 911 phone system went into service in Haleyville, Ala 1967 Event 100,000,000th U.S. phone connected 1959 Event 1st phone call between auto and plane 1956 Event Weather forecasting phone line set up in London England 1937 Event Britian begins using an emergency phone number (999) 1927 Event Using phone lines TV is sent from Washington D.C. to New York City 1914 Event 1st transcontinental phone link made between New York City and SF 1892 Event 1st commercial long-distance phone line opens (Chicago-NY) 1881 Event Bell Phone opens 1st Dutch telephone exchange
