In the Western Union in the 30s of the 20th century worked 14 thousand couriers delivering telegrams. 1980 - for the first time in the history of Western Union revenues from money transfers exceeded the income from the telegraph service. As a result of 2011, net income of Western Union has increased by 28% to $ 1.165 billion, the company reported. In the early 60s Western Union has put into operation transcontinental microwave system of data transmission via radio waves, completely replacing the web of telegraph poles and wires. In 1914 Western Union engineers invented the first payment card - a prototype of the modern credit card. In the 1910-1920 years. Western Union is actively engaged in researching, innovating in the field of data transmission.