In the early forties of the 20th century, Western Union has used the first time a commercial intercity microwave transmission system. America was on the verge of civil war and needed a reliable connection between the North and South. On the telegraph market of the USA at this time were operated with six large companies: American Telegraph Company, New York Albany and Buffalo Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company, Atlantic and Ohio Telegraph, Illinois & Mississippi Telegraph Company, New Orleans & Ohio Telegraph Company, and the brainchild of Sibley & Co. - The Western Union Telegraph. In the 30's of the twentieth century, Western Union has become the world's largest telegraph company. Western Union offers one of the easiest ways for families and friends to send money and stay connected almost anywhere in the world. You do not need to open a bank account, so you can send or receive money in any of the 170 000 service points of Western Union around the world. In 1849, Selden and Sibley, the founders of the future Western Union, created the New York State Printing Telegraph Company.