Bell System
The Bell System was a system of companies. The companies were led by the Bell Telephone Company and later by AT&T (the American Telephone and Telegraph Company).[1] The Bell System provided telephone service to most of the United States and Canada. Sometimes, it was a monopoly.
| File:Bell System hires 1969 logo blue.svg Final logo designed by Saul Bass | |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
|---|---|
| Fate | Breakup of the Bell System |
| Successors | Regional Bell Operating Companies AT&T Corporation |
| Founded | 1877 |
| Founder | Alexander Graham Bell |
| Defunct | January 8, 1982 |
| Headquarters | Dallas, , U.S. |
| Parent | Bell Telephone Company (1877–1885) AT&T (1885–1982) |
The Bell System companies were founded in 1877. People called the Bell System "Ma Bell".
On December 31, 1983, the system was divided into independent companies, known as Baby Bells and RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies).[2]
The Baby Bells were BellSouth, Southwestern Bell, Bell Atlantic, Southern New England Telephone, NYNEX, Pacific Telesis and Ameritech.
In 1994-95, Southwestern Bell changed its corporate name to SBC Communications. Between 1997 and 1999, SBC bought Pacific Telesis, SNET and Ameritech.
In 1997, Bell Atlantic blended with NYNEX. That was when Bell Atlantic began doing business in New York state and New England.
In 2000, Bell Atlantic bought GTE (General Telephone and Electronics Corporation). The corporate name was changed to Verizon.[3] Also in 2000, Qwest bought US West. The surviving company was Qwest Communications.
In 2005-06, AT&T merged with BellSouth and SBC. AT&T was the company surviving after the merger. The company became AT&T Inc.
In 2010-11, Qwest was bought out by the CenturyLink telephone company. It was then renamed CenturyLink. The company operates in many U.S. states.[4]
Bell System Media
Logo used from 1889 to 1900
- Bell System advertisement in Western Electric v1no1 News March 1912 promoting universal service.jpg
1912 Bell System advertisement promoting its slogan for universal service
- Bell System hires 1921 logo.PNG
Logo style of Bell System affiliated companies from 1921 to 1939
195 Broadway, AT&T headquarters for most of the 20th century
- Bell Systems manhole hayward.jpg
Manhole cover with Bell System logo
- Bell telephone pedestal001.jpg
A Bell Telephone System telecommunications pedestal
- CincinnatiBell (vectorized).svg
Cincinnati Bell's alternative logo retained the iconic Bell logo until 2016
References
- ↑ "Bell System History". Bell System Memorial. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ↑ "The Changing Landscape". RBOC Timeline. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ↑ Bell Atlantic-GTE Merger. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/17/business/fcc-approves-bell-atlantic-gte-merger-creating-no-1-phone-company.html. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ↑ "Qwest, CenturyLink Finalize Merger". Washington Technology. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
