Evolution of the AT&T and BellSouth Brands

SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp. create A series of corporations In a corporate reorganization, Cingular Wireless, second- controlling Alexander AT&T acquires the assets of its largest wireless carrier. Graham Bell’s patent rights parent, American Bell is organized. The first, Bell Telephone Co., and becomes Telephone Co., is soon the new owner of the local The fourth Bell logo is superseded by National Bell Bell operating companies Telephone Co., which is inaugurated with minor nationwide. Southwestern Bell replaced with American Bell modifications to the typeface. Telephone Co. is formed. Telephone Co. These firms In an era of cutting innovation, One year later, it adopts SBC Communications Inc. supply telephones to their AT&T has taken telephone Southwestern Bell Corp. is the third Bell logo, and AT&T embark upon licensees across the service both trans-Atlantic renamed SBC Communications instituted with the words a historic industry merger, country, including the (1927) and trans-Pacific (1934) Inc. at its annual meeting of “Bell System” placed inside marking the beginning of Southwestern Telegraph and demonstrates the country’s stockholders and adopts a new the bell itself. The logo a new era of capability, and Telephone Co. (formed first example of television logo. The five-state SBC region design is eventually used South Central Bell Telephone innovation and convenience in 1880) who, in turn, rent (1927). By 1947, AT&T offers includes Missouri, Oklahoma, by all local Bell companies. Company is created when the in global communications them to local subscribers (in mobile telephone service and SBC and BellSouth Corp. Kansas, Arkansas and Texas. Southern Bell Telephone states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and entertainment services. this case, to Arkansas and enables the nation’s first launch first wireless services. and Telegraph Company Alabama, Tennessee and In October, SBC announces Texas customers). broadband transmission through Southern New England serves most of the south Kentucky are split off from that the combined company installation of coaxial cable Telecommunications Corp. and provides telephone Southern Bell. will be called AT&T Inc. The in the network. Its scientists (SNET), incorporated in 1986, service to nine states. new AT&T logo is unveiled develop the concept of also adopts a new corporate following the merger close cellular telephony, and invent identity. in November 2005. the transistor.

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BellSouth realigns South SBC Communications Inc. AT&T and BellSouth merge, consolidating Central Bell and Southern Bell. completes its $16.5 billion The first Bell logo ownership and operation of Cingular Wireless The second Bell logo is purchase of Pacific Telesis is adopted by AT&T. and creating a new, more innovative, nimble introduced to convey the Group, capping the first Angus S. Hibbard, the and efficient company. AT&T will combine its growing interconnection acquisition among the company’s general wireless and wireline Internet Protocol (IP) between local and long regional holding companies. superintendent, conceived networks to speed convergence of new voice, distance service. It is The new company provides the design. data and video services and to lead the adopted by the local Bell wireline and wireless services industry's shift to next-generation, telephone companies, with to seven states, including the IP-based technologies. their names appearing at nation’s two most populous the top within the double American Telephone and As the result of the 1956 (California and Texas). circle, including the Telegraph Co. (AT&T) is consent decree barring The stylized Pacific Telesis Southwestern Telegraph established as a subsidiary AT&T from engaging in “access” button is added and Telephone Co. AT&T of American Bell Telephone unregulated businesses, to the logo’s “B” to mark remains the head of the Bell Co. Through a first-of-its-kind the company limits its the combination. System until its breakup 84 SBC and BellSouth announce the network, the firm connects endeavors to special AT&T agrees to divest its years later. creation of Internet yellow pages remote exchanges and is projects for the federal local phone companies, and One year later, SBC joint venture and acquire popularly called “the long government and to Southwestern Bell Corp. (SBC) Communications Inc. merges www.yellowpages.com, Inc., distance company.” operating the national and BellSouth Corp. are with Southern New England later relaunching the new telephone system. The incorporated as two of the Telecommunications Corp. in YELLOWPAGES.COM. fifth logo is installed for seven regional holding a $6.5 billion deal and, in use by local Bell System companies in anticipation 1999, closes the $75 billion companies in 1964, of the AT&T divestiture. Both acquisition of Ameritech followed by the sixth retain the bell as their logos. Corp., extending its footprint and final Bell logo to its current total of 13 in 1969. To mark the restructure, a states and representing distinctive AT&T globe logo roughly one-third of the is designed symbolizing a nation’s telephone lines. world circled by electronic communications. Later that year, in conjunction with Ameritech, AT&T launches the first commercial cellular telephone system in Chicago.