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.
The first cellular phone was invented and demonstrated in 1973 by Martin Cooper, an engineer and general manager for Motorola, who successfully developed a portable handset using cellular communications technology. Cooper made the first ever cellular phone call in April 1973 using the prototype Motorola Dyna-Tac.However, Cooper's first cellphone was the result of decades of research and development into mobile radio communications, and cellphones would not be widely used until 20 years after the Dyna-Tac.ooper made the first ever cellular phone call in April 1973 using the prototype Motorola Dyna-Tac. However, Cooper's first cellphone was the result of decades of research and development into mobile radio communications, and cellphones would not be widely used until 20 years after the Dyna-Tac.