Summary:
Over the last 120 years the telecommunications industry has witnessed many world-changing events-the deployment of telephones (which surpassed telegraph in terms of business impact) then radio, television, and now the Internet. During this timeframe, AT&T-the oldest telecommunications firm still in business today- was reorganized following the break up of the Bell System, and has since re-risen to become one of the top three global telecommunications firms.
AT&T is transitioning from phone to data to managed networks in a progression that increasingly adds value to communication transactions. It has not been an easy road, especially the last five years, which proved investment in Internet properties, including Excite@Home, to be costly mistakes. None-the-less, AT&T has kept focus on providing first class consumer and business communications services, extending and leveraging Internet, wireless, and broadband technologies into managed personal and business communication services.
In strategy evolved, AT&T has created a vision of the next 25 years as a provider of global telecommunications networks, delivering voice, data, broadband, and horizon technologies to both consumers and businesses. With businesses requiring secure dedicated channels and data becoming increasingly more complex, AT&T is currently focusing its efforts on building robust business networks for SME and Fortune 5000 firms. As the telecommunications vertical remains the most impacted by disruptive and innovative technologies, AT&T remains competitive through key alliances with value-added and managed service providers (MSPs), including data center and hosting services that extend the business benefit of the network.
The rumors of AT&T's death have been greatly exaggerated, a ...