Cordless Phone Inventor

Teri Pall, a jazz musician, invented the cordless phone in 1965. The basic idea was that a base unit sent out a radio signal, which was then transmitted to a handset. The low frequency signal transmitted at 1.7 MHz, which worked within a short range.

Such a low frequency was problematic for a few reasons, including security and signal range. Of course, no invention is perfect at the start; it takes years of innovation to vastly improve devices. In 1994, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allowed the manufacture of 900 MHz phones, and in succeeding years, 2.4 and 5.8 GHz. This allows for much greater security as well as range in movement.

Teri Pall’s brilliant invention revolutionized the way that we look at phone communication. Phones were once bulky and stationary, with limited privacy. With the advent of the cordless phone and modern innovations increasing security, sound quality and range, the cordless phone is indispensible.