We can do anything we want, we're the phone company, SNORT.
Posted on 03/06/2006 1:11:53 AM PST by RWR8189
AT&T is on the rise again.
A 20th century industrial icon, the company once known as American Telephone & Telegraph was chopped into pieces in the 1980s and then withered into a bite-size company that was easily swallowed up by one of its offspring last year.
A proposed $67 billion deal to acquire BellSouth Corp., perhaps the biggest merger ever in the telecommunications industry, will restore some of AT&T’s lost heft, making it the local phone service provider in 22 states and giving it a workforce of more than 300,000 people.
But for all its size the new AT&T is very different company competing in a very different world than the communications monoculture dominated by the old AT&T until it was forcibly broken up apart because of antitrust concerns in 1984.
The new AT&T is based not in New York City but in San Antonio, Texas, where it has its roots as the regional Bell operating company Southwestern Bell, later known as SBC. Last year SBC completed the $16 billion acquisition of the old AT&T, a huge deal that nonetheless was just the opening act for Sunday’s blockbuster.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
I used AT&T as my digital phone provider. Worst service on planet earth. Worst customer service on planet earth.
I switched to Cingular and was happy. It wasn't perfect but customer service righted wrongs.
Now, I come to find out AT&T merged with Cingular and will take on the new name of AT&T. God help us all.
there are many other problems bigger with other so called telecom companies with other companies in all lines of business...perfect service is long gone in the USA and else where in the world because the world wants CHEAP...in the USA we need to stop breaking up companies and let them be strong enough to at least begin compete again internationally with other country subsidized giants...this will just a start....so don't let the piling on begin again with this companies attempt to be competitive again
While SBC's US networks were disintegrating into obsolete 100-year old junk, they used the revenues they received from US ratepayers to build telephone systems in Mexico, Africa and the Middle East. Is that what you mean by competing internationally? I would rather have seen them investing in their homeland, meeting their responsibilities to build America's infrastructure, not some foreign country's.
I'm so glad we're seeing the last of the name "Cingular." Next should be Q-West! :0)
Did Carter bust up the first ma Bell? I always thought it was a mistake to break them up. Their labs were producing the greatest innovations in the world. So, if it were Carter, it would make sense that he wanted to kill a productive USA company. Like Clinton's and the Democrats attempt at taking down Microsoft.
"We're putting the band back together."
Nah Peanut didn't do this one. It was Judge Green who did the deed.
Comcast disagrees...
"Cable industry files lawsuit to stop SBC-backed legislation
Senate Bill 5 allows new telecom competitors entering the video market to obtain a state-issued, statewide cable and video franchise -- instead of requiring them to obtain franchises from individual municipalities.
SBC Texas President Jan Newton lauded Perry's signing of the bill. SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) in San Antonio lobbied for the legislation.
SBC is in the midst of investing $4 billion to develop a fiber-optic network in its 13-state territory. By 2007, the company will have the ability to reach 18 million households. "
http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2005/09/05/daily21.html
"SBC switches on Microsoft in major IPTV deal SBC signs $400 million licensing deal to use Microsoft's new Internet-based TV platform "
http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/11/17/HNiptvdeal_1.html?DIGITAL%20RIGHTS%20MANAGEMENT
I have never quit using AT&T (for long-distance service). I have never had a major problem, and when I have had problems, they were solved in a quick and timely manner. Bell South is my local provider since the breakup, and their service has been positive also.
LLS
Good, maybe now they'll come cut the trees away from my phonelines.
Save for later
A timely ping.
I quit using AT&T in 2003 after they had committed what I consider to be the unforgivable sin in business. Depositing the check and claiming that I never paid my bill. At that point I dropped AT&T on both long distance and internet. AT&T has been a company with misplaced priorities, squandering resources on pandering to internal pressure groups via a large diversity directorate. The office politics within AT&T were getting to resemble Atlas Shrugged.
My wife was in NY and was charged over $500.00 in bogus network connect charges by her hotel (and their fly-by-night telcom company). This was because she mistakenly used her Bell South calling card rather than her AT&T card. AT&T forced the company to drop ALL charges, gave us long distance service for .05 cents a minute, and issued an additional $200.00 credit to our account.
I guess the old YMMV applies here.
LLS
I haven't really dealt with AT&T, but BellSouth gave me crappy customer service. I scheduled them to hook up local service for me on a particular day -- I had to be there to let them in, so I spent all day waiting at home. No show. I call them up that evening -- they apologize and assure me that they can *guarantee* that the guy will show up the next day. I mentioned how I had to stay home all day, and they said "Oh, the technician can call your cell phone and let you know when you need to be there." OK. Next day, no call received. Found a note on the door that said the tech had showed up while I wasn't home, and he wouldn't call my cell because it was a long distance number.
I cancelled my order.
"Senate Bill 5 allows new telecom competitors entering the video market to obtain a state-issued, statewide cable and video franchise -- instead of requiring them to obtain franchises from individual municipalities."
Read my tagline.
Breaking up AT&T was a smart move. Corporate monopolies have all the bad features of government-run industry, for the same reasons - no competitive spirit. The only thing they lack is criminalization of their competitors.
Long distance prices didn't start falling until the breakup of At&T.
I remember when Northwestern Bell could threaten to cut off your service if you bought and installed an extra long curly cord on your kitchen phone. The same mentality still exists at SBC/AT&T, believe me.
Hmm. My cell phone service with AT&T was great. Changed to Cingular when they made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Even though they're the same company now, they don't use the same network and the reception is poorer with Cingular. Maybe that will change.
"You may think phone service stinks since deregulation, but don't mess with us, because we're all you've got. In fact, if we fold, you'll have no damn phones. AT&T: we're tired of taking your crap"
"Have you seeeen the LIGHT?!"
the pile on has begun...go to suncom and many others like it if you think the new att is so bad...you might not be able to call anyone to complain...how about what we have done to the airlines...much like we did to communications...why do americans only want to kill ourselves...it is a big world and the sooner we get with it...the better...cheap cheap ceap gets us in a no win ditch! btw-if you where a stockholder in something instead of just a user...you might get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apparently, you're more concerned about Mexico and Africa getting a modern telecommunications infrastructure. I say America First.
SBC's Project Lightspeed will only be deployed in a relatively small area of their geographic territory. It is not an undue burden for SBC to follow the same regulations that the cable companies were required to follow in order to deploy video service.
This is a states rights issue. As long as utilities are using the public right-of-way and running cable through your private property without paying you rent, it is fair to expect the utilities to follow the local regulations for franchise agreements.
Many people think that the break up did it but that was not the case. It was the development of electronic switching and automated billing that brought the prices down. It just so happened this came at the time of the split in many places.
you are totally missing my point...directed not so much to the new ATT but to many USA companies that need to be large enough to be able to compete internationally...so be it.
As the article stated. AT&T ended last year. This is a new At&T.
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