Thomas Edison did not invent the telephone. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, who was awarded the patent for it in 1876. Edison is known for many inventions, such as the phonograph and the electric light bulb, but he was not involved in the invention of the telephone.
Edison and Bell were contemporaries and even had some professional interactions, but their inventions focused on different technologies. Bell’s work with electricity and sound transmission led him to develop the telephone, while Edison worked on electric power and sound recording. Both inventors significantly impacted the world, but it’s important to note that the telephone was solely Bell’s achievement.