In the early forties of the 20th century, Western Union has used the first time a commercial intercity microwave transmission system. Leaving the idea of expansion into Europe, Western Union took up the expansion of services in the U.S. market. The size of the commission fee for the transfer is charged according to the Western Union tariffs and depends on the amount of money sent. In 2007 the company made 167.7 million transactions on money transfers between individuals and 404.6 million transactions between physical and legal persons. Thanks to cooperation with Western Union the Associated Press at the end of the XIX century took almost monopolistic position in the U.S. market news. In 1879 Western Union left the telephone business after losing a lawsuit against Alexander Graham Bell - the patent holder on the phone.