Here are the initial reactions/replies when Mr. Bell’s telephone was brought to public attention…..

• “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” — Memo, Western Union, 1878

• “The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys.” — Sir William Preece, chief engineer, British Post Office, 1878

• “It’s a great invention, but who would want to use it, anyway?” — Rutherford B. Hayes, after a demonstration, 1876

That was then.. today we have asterisk, and open source telephone server. Read an Asterisk Overview here.