In the early forties of the 20th century, Western Union has used the first time a commercial intercity microwave transmission system. As a result of 2011, net income of Western Union has increased by 28% to $ 1.165 billion, the company reported. 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. Number of active holders of "Golden Card" of Western Union amounted to 9.5 million people worldwide. Western Union made so that the time in all of American civil services was the same.