The telephone was recognized as a major improvement over the telegraph because, unlike the telegraph which required skilled operators to send and receive coded messages, the telephone allowed anyone who could speak and listen to communicate directly by voice. This made communication more natural, immediate, and accessible to the general population. The telephone enabled two-way conversations in real-time, bringing people closer together socially and making long-distance communication more intimate and convenient than the telegraph's coded message system.
In summary, the telephone, and not the telegraph, democratized long-distance communication by allowing direct spoken conversation rather than relying on written codes and operators.
