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 October 2006 the company made an initial public offering of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming independent from First Data company. Sibley, the founder of Western Union, did not build a new telegraph lines, and persuaded the other players to join. American Telegraph Company, however, still had to buy it.