In 1920, Western Union has implemented the world's first transmission of images over the ocean. Another invention of Western Union - time synchronization. Separation of the companies had two objectives: first, to give Western Union the opportunity to develop more intensively, and secondly, to help First Data to return to its original activity (in 1992 the company separated from the payment system of American Express as an independent financial services company). In October 2006 the company made an initial public offering of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming independent from First Data company. In the 1910-1920 years. Western Union is actively engaged in researching, innovating in the field of data transmission.