What did AT&T used to be called?
What did AT&T used to be called
It is noteworthy that AT&T Internet has gone under various names during its more than a century existence. Knowing its present name and sector, let's now examine the founding date and former name of this telecoms company.
Originally titled the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T started in 1885. Established to handle the first long-distance phone and expand it throughout the nation, this initial AT&T firm Acquired a monopoly in the telecoms sector, the corporation underwent multiple mergers and acquisitions throughout the next decades. The first phase in this calculated action by AT&T, which was completed by 1910, was control of Western Union, the telegraph behemoth.
In 1913, the United States Department of Justice started looking at AT&T for anticompetitive actions and asked that the business willingly break up for fresh competitors to join the market. Originally hesitant to do so, AT&T decided to comply to avoid an antitrust action directed against it. This produced the Kingsbury Commitment of 1913, named after the AT&T vice president who approved it. In keeping with this dedication, AT&T promised to sell its $30 million in Western Union capital stock and let independent phone firms link with its long-distance lines.
Under this deal, the regional Bell phone businesses were founded as autonomous "Baby Bells." Among the most well-known Baby Bells are the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, New England Telephone and Telegraph, and New York Telephone Company. AT&T maintained a monopoly over the national long lines for the next few decades while the Baby Bells offered local phone services.
Established in 1925 and later renamed American Telephone and Telegraph Incorporated, the original American Telephone and Telegraph Company still uses the abbreviated moniker AT&T. Given that AT&T was becoming a publicly traded firm at this time, this new name fit. Established in 1921 as well, the Bell System logo with the Bell insignia would likewise become legendary in the next decades.
From 1925 to 1984, AT&T was the sole firm providing phone services to much of America; Bell Operating Companies provided local and regional phone exchange services. But in 1974 the U.S. Department of Justice once again brought an antitrust lawsuit targeted at selling AT&T's long-distance operations from Bell Operating Companies that provide local service. This resulted in another well-known community known as the Modification of Final Judgment, also referred to as "Breakdown of AT&T."
Following the divestment known as the Breakout of AT&T in 1984, the Bell Operating Companies were split off from AT&T and operated as distinct corporations. These startup businesses were dubbed "Baby Bells." Among the seven Baby Bells produced this time around were Ameritch, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, and NYNEX. AT&T continued to provide long-distance services, but the Baby Bells became independent local exchange carriers with local phone services.
Following the 1984 Breakup, the original AT&T Corporation operated mostly on new technology and long-distance services. But in 1994, American Telephone and Telegraph Company shortened the whole legal name to AT&T. This name change was supposed to reflect the company's move from more recent technologies such as cellular, broadband, and digital networking among others from established technologies including analog, simple, and basic.
Since the new century, AT&T has undergone various mergers and changes to become the media and telecoms behemoth it is today. This has made its growth interesting. Among the main purchases are AT&T Broadband in 2000, AT&T Wireless in 2004, BellSouth in 2006, and DirectTV in 2015. Recognized for mobile communications, broadband internet, digital entertainment, and much more, this is the contemporary AT&T.
But it all started more than 135 years ago under the old AT&T, American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Acquisitions and dissolutions have caused this corporation to change several times in this competitive market. Still, that well-known brand, AT&T, remains ubiquitous in the telecoms industry through all these major commercial transformations.
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