The longest lasting Bell is merging with AT&T soon

[rbcp]

I hate this.  I miss the "Bell" companies.  I think I'd be more for it if they'd all retain their Bell names with the mergers.  But they're all sticking with the boring AT&T name.  Which technically doesn't even make sense - nobody has Telegraph service anymore.  At least it's better than calling them all SBC.

from http://att.sbc.com/gen/press-room?pid=7659

AT&T Inc. and BellSouth Corporation have announced an agreement to combine the two companies to create a more effective and efficient provider in the wireless, broadband, video, voice and data markets.

The companies have received approval from stockholders of both AT&T and BellSouth and are awaiting final regulatory clearance. Closing is expected this fall.

The acquisition will streamline the ownership and operations of Cingular Wireless, which is jointly owned by AT&T and BellSouth. The new AT&T will be more innovative, nimble and efficient, providing benefits to customers by combining the Cingular, BellSouth and AT&T networks into a single fully integrated wireless and wireline Internet Protocol network offering a full range of advanced solutions.

As a result, AT&T will be better able to speed the convergence of new and improved services for consumers and businesses, and embrace the industry's shift to Internet Protocol network-based technologies.

[frog]

Does anyone else weary of hearing the term "integrate" when it comes to making things shitty?

[ghostman]

My great aunt was an operator for South Central Bell for like 30-40 years... she had some plaque on her wall displayed prominently with an old logo.  She lived to be like 90 or something.  I know she'd be rolling in her grave if she knew they merged with AT&T!
                                                                                                            R.I.P.

[silentneep]

Is there any kind of comprehensive list to see which old Bells have emerged/become what other companies?  I'm just curious how long it will be before all the former bells will be owned by one company, thereby negating their 1960's dissolution.

[gangals]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Bell_operating_company

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System_divestiture

The former independent Bell System franchise Cincinnati Bell will be the only Bell that remains as originally conceived, and – along with Bell Canada, which was divested by AT&T in 1956 – will be one of two companies that still carry the "Bell" name.

I'm under Cinci Bell...

[rbcp]

Oh yeah, I completely forgot about Cincinnati Bell.  And I used to live there.  I'm so old and forgetful.

[silentneep]

Look how easy they make it for me!

[rbcp]

That chart is lame.  Nynex became Bell Atlantic before it became Verizon.  And where's Illinois Bell, Ohio Bell, Indiana Bell, etc?  And I know it's about the Bells but they should stick GTE in there too.  And the Alltels that merged with GTE.  That all ties in with Verizon. 

AT&T should rename itself to Ma Bell.

[.]

Bellsouth existed in Argentina till last year when some Spanish company bought it, I know this isn't much related but I've found it interesting anyways.
Oh, and since January it will be only one superlarge main cell phone company here, Movistar is buying all of them one by one.

[gangals]

[silentneep]

Where the hell did you find phone company-related political cartoons?

[gangals]

http://images.google.com/images?q=ma%20bell&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&sa=N&tab=wi

[Dr P4nyk]

Bellsouth existed in Argentina till last year when some Spanish company bought it, I know this isn't much related but I've found it interesting anyways.
Oh, and since January it will be only one superlarge main cell phone company here, Movistar is buying all of them one by one.

Spain seems to be buying all of the South American telephone companies. 

P4nyk

[bitbox]

but wasn't AT&T merging with cingular?  correct me if im wrong.

[trevelyn]

no its not merging with cingular, they did that a long time ago.  They are just reverting back to the old name.  No one can make up their minds there, and Silentneep is way off on his diagram.  So here, I fixed It.