Nickname 'Berkeley Blue' in Phreaking Community

In the early 1970s, Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Inc., developed a device known as a blue box, which allowed users to manipulate the telephone system to make free long-distance calls. This innovation was part of a larger underground movement known as phreaking, where individuals explored and exploited the vulnerabilities of the telephone network. Wozniak's design was particularly notable for its effectiveness and simplicity, which contributed to its popularity among phreakers. His work in this area earned him the nickname 'Berkeley Blue' within the phreaking community, a reference to his association with the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a student at the time. The blue box became a symbol of the early hacking culture, representing a blend of technical ingenuity and a rebellious spirit against corporate control of communication systems.