Talk:AT&T Corporation

Logo?

Shouldn't the old logo from before 2007 and not the new logo be there? they're different things pls change 2601:1C0:5380:55E0:4046:B9B2:2601:193A (talk) 21:24, 7 March 2024 (UTC)

AT&T Corp. still operates as of 2021

Despite the 2005 merger with SBC, AT&T Inc. has been including "AT&T Corp." in its assets lists until at least 2021, which implies the company is still operating and is not yet defunct, or at least became defunct years after 2005. 2A01:119F:23A:6400:5094:6EFA:F723:73DF (talk) 19:16, 2 April 2024 (UTC)

Founding date

There seems to be controversy regarding the founding date of AT&T Corp. It is no secret that this entity was incorporated in 1885 as the long distance subsidiary of the Bell Telephone Company that eventually acquired its parent in 1899. This page has always stated AT&T Corp’s foundation date as 1885 until the last couple days, when a user has changed it to 1877 out of the belief that AT&T Corp. was founded as Bell Telephone Company in 1877. While corporate lineage could be traced to 1877, there is already a page for Bell Telephone Company which describes that company prior to its 1899 acquisition by its subsidiary. AT&T Corp.’s history is quite distinct from that of the Bell companies that eventually spun off, and of course post-divestiture AT&T was forbidden from using the Bell name (sans Bell Labs) and logo. Just wanting to get some different perspectives on this as there has been no controversy prior to this week regarding this company’s founding date listed as its incorporation in 1885. KansasCityKSMO (talk) 06:26, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

Another point to be made, all of the Bell Operating Companies (Southwestern Bell, Pacific Northwest Bell, etc.) and the Baby Bells trace their lineage to the historic Bell Telephone Company founded in 1877 and could be said to be successors to the 1877 company. However, like AT&T Corporation, each has their own foundation date because all of them have a distinct history from the original 1877 Bell Telephone Company. KansasCityKSMO (talk) 11:41, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

• Procedural close This needs to be discussed before creating a RFC per WP:RFCBEFORE. Also, you might encourage more comment by following WP:RFCST and creating a brief, neutral statement of or question about the issue. Nemov (talk) 20:51, 9 May 2024 (UTC)
• Any thoughts? @Retro00064, Speer320, BrandonXLF, and Tinton5:Emiya1980 (talk) 21:01, 10 May 2024 (UTC)
• Just because there is a separate page for Bell Telephone Company does not mean its founding date cannot be listed for AT&T Corporation. The American Telephone and Telegraph Company was originally created as a subsidiary of American Bell. AT&T Corporation only emerged as the Bell system's parent in 1899 because American Bell transferred its assets to the former to get around Massachusetts laws restricting its growth. From this moment forward, AT&T became a successor company to American Bell for all intents and purposes.Therefore, the foundation date for the entity that ultimately became known as AT&T Corporation should be listed as 1877, the same date when American Bell was originally founded.Emiya1980 (talk) 20:09, 12 May 2024 (UTC)

Discussion

I'm pulling the plug on this RFC. It's malformed. Nemov (talk) 13:11, 10 May 2024 (UTC)

Rfc on AT&T Corporation's Founding Date

This Rfc comes to resolve a dispute regarding when AT&T Corporation was founded. Should the founding date be listed as (A) 1877: the date when Bell Telephone Company was originally founded or (B) 1885: when AT&T was originally created as a subsidiary of Bell Telephone Company? Emiya1980 (talk) 22:23, 16 May 2024 (UTC)

@Ego White Tray, WFinch, Brosi, Wolfensberger, Ridwan97, and Timc:Emiya1980 (talk) 07:10, 2 June 2024 (UTC)

I believe it should be 1885 2601:1C0:5380:55E0:B417:C794:200:786D (talk) 07:14, 17 May 2024 (UTC)

It should be B, 1885, when it was originally founded. KansasCityKSMO (talk) 03:46, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

A The American Telephone and Telegraph Company (which later become known as AT&T Corporation) was originally created as a subsidiary of American Bell. AT&T Corporation only emerged as the Bell system's parent in 1899 because American Bell transferred its assets to the former to get around Massachusetts laws restricting its growth. From this moment forward, AT&T became a successor company to American Bell for all intents and purposes.Therefore, the foundation date for the entity that ultimately became known as AT&T Corporation should be listed as 1877, the same date when American Bell was originally founded.Emiya1980 (talk) 01:19, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

B - As the entity AT&T didn't exist until 1885. Bell Telephone Company is/was a completely different entity. Goldenarrow9 (talk) 19:21, 21 May 2024 (UTC)

B — Per Timeline of the telephone: 3 March 1885: The American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) is incorporated as the long-distance division of American Bell Telephone Company. It will become the head of the Bell System on the last day of 1899. ... 30 December 1899: American Bell Telephone Company is purchased by its own long-distance subsidiary, American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) to bypass state regulations limiting capitalization. AT&T assumes leadership role of the Bell System. — WFinch (talk) 16:58, 2 June 2024 (UTC)

B That's when it was founded - irrespective of subsequent events.Lukewarmbeer (talk) 09:36, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

@Antonio cruz wiki, Espyul, BrandonXLF, Fairlyoddparents1234, Tinton5, The Navigators, and Harryzilber: Care to weigh in on this discussion?Emiya1980 (talk) 01:01, 20 May 2024 (UTC)

@Retro00064, Cool Hand Luke, Speer320, Josephf, Squiggleslash, X570, and GearedBull:Emiya1980 (talk) 05:57, 21 May 2024 (UTC)

My view is that 1877 is the correct date. Joseph (talk) 21:59, 28 May 2024 (UTC)

• B (Summoned by bot) The company traces its roots to 1877, corporate restructurings are irrelevant. Just trace the existing company's lineage and find its earliest founder. Avgeekamfot (talk) 07:37, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

Avgeekamfot I'm confused. If you believe the company traces its roots to 1877, don't you mean A? Emiya1980 (talk) 07:58, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

My bad. Yes, I meant A when the predecessor company was founded. If needed, include both in the infobox (as done at British Airways) or use 1877 then explain corporate history in the text. Avgeekamfot (talk) 08:57, 3 June 2024 (UTC)

• B as AT&T wasn't founded until the later date. However, the history is relevant to its founding, so all details are necessary in the article. It's not as though we're dealing with a simple rebranding here. AT&T was a newly founded entity. Penguino35 (talk) 15:40, 13 June 2024 (UTC)

Defunct date and founding date?

The defunct date should be 2005 as other companies used their buy out date as defunct dates? For example MCI they own several exchanges in my area? Are they independent? No they're just Verizon Their intercepts are from MCI most likely see where their network problems on what network and easily look up Tandem ID 2601:1C0:5380:55E0:B417:C794:200:786D (talk) 07:09, 17 May 2024 (UTC)