I'm not sure if they qualified as monopolies per the true definition, but what about TWA and PanAm for international air travel during the regulated airfare days? They each had respective monopolies on huge numbers of routes on separate coasts.

Even if you give them monopoly, it was a shift in government policy (deregulation) that took it away.

western union?

Still the only way that millions of poor people working in rich countries have to send money home. If I recall correctly, at least.

I'm outsourcing to South America and I've been using PayPal.

There were a few other options, as I recall. A service called Payoneer, some others.

It used to be W.U. exclusively, but that's changed in the last ten years.

> I'm outsourcing to South America and I've been using PayPal.

Sure, but that's not the group of people I was talking about, who generally go into a physical office, cash in hand, and want to send it somewhere else where someone can go pick up cash. WU isn't a complete monopoly in terms of sending money, obviously, but they still have a big chunk of the market. Actual facts would help the conversation, though:-)

Western Union still has a huge presence in India..especially in southern parts..