JimD Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 Some of you will remember when Federal Judge Greene (DC District) ordered the break-up of AT&T for "the benefit of consumers" more than 21 years ago. Today, Southwestern Bell (SBC) finalized the purchase of what remained of the old AT&T which was basically reduced to a LD company. Within several weeks, SBC will undergo a name change and begin trading on financial markets as "T", which is ironically the historical ticker symbol for AT&T. During the past 21 years, SBC has gradually acquired most of the so-called "Baby-Bells" that were birthed on Judge Greene's orders. BellSouth is the outstanding exception now that the meager remains of AT&T has fallen. The business of America is business. Got to love it! Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince P Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 Jim D, The other company that is not included in the ATT - SBC Merger is US West (the have a different name today). And there is their manufcaturing arm, Lucent, that is not included, and there are a few Lucent spin offs. The problem is that the telephony environment has changed. There are many other companies in the businee like Google, Net 8, Vonage, AOL announced that I will be in the telephone business, Netzero also a VoIP telephony company. The whole of technology is turning to VoIP(data over IP, TV over IP etc.). ATT-SBC is still playing with 1982 Switched technology. They have an outdated investment base of Nortel DMS 100 and Lucent #5ESS switches). Their cost structure is in question. Their stock has be going down hill for the last 7 years. The president of SBC, Big Ed, stated a few weeks ago that it will not let other companies use HIS lines to send voice or data or TV. I think Big Ed believes he owns the internet. The only thing SBC offers is a DSL connection to the internet. He should have no control if I want to go to Caddyinfo.com of send some IM messages. The future of Telephoney is voice, data, tv etc. over IP. SBC is not even close to understanding what that is really about. They do know how to lobby. It should be noted that the FCC included a provision in the approval of the merger, that requires SBC to offer stand alone DSL connections. No, you have to have an SBC Telephone. But you say that ATT has the knowledge. Well, ATT has made mistake after mistake. If it was not for SBC they would be out of business. In terms of leadership. Davy Dorman, head of ATT was told to hit the road two weeks ago. SBC will be running the whole show. You buy "T" stock. I will sell it short. Vince P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted November 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 Thanks for reminding me of the USWest to QWEST transistion; I had forgotten how that one ended up. I remain casually interested in this whole progression because I was an owner of T before Greene and retained several of the Baby Bells for some time after the break-up. And I have a family member who was hired by Ameritech and has become adjusted to being a SBC employee. Hence my more than casual interest in the goings on with SBC. I'm a happy Vonage user (in BellSouth country) and I'll be even happier when the Voip providers fix the 911 location situation. Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince P Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Jim, I am an ex-manager of SBC. Actually, Pacific Bell before we merged with SBC. In a short time it was realized that we were taken over by SBC and Pacific Bell was the junior partner. Just like Ameritec Add to the above Verizon. This is a combination of General Telephone and NYNX. NYNX being of the baby bells. Vince P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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