AT&T facts for kids

AT&T Inc.

AT&T's logo since 2015
Whitacre Tower, AT&T's corporate headquarters in Dallas
Formerly	Southwestern Bell Corporation (1983–1995) SBC Communications Inc. (1995–2005)
Type	Public
Traded as	NYSE: T S&P 100 component S&P 500 component
ISIN	ISIN: [https://isin.toolforge.org/?language=en&isin=US00206R1023 US00206R1023]
Industry	Telecommunications Technology
Predecessors	AT&T Corporation BellSouth Ameritech Pacific Telesis Southwestern Bell
Founded	December 30, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-12-30)
Founder	Edward Whitacre Jr.
Headquarters	Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas , U.S.
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	William Kennard (chairman) John Stankey (CEO)
Products	Satellite television Fixed-line telephones Mobile telephones Internet services
Revenue	US$122.4 billion (2023)
Operating income	US$23.46 billion (2023)
Net income	US$15.62 billion (2023)
Total assets	US$407.1 billion (2023)
Total equity	US$117.4 billion (2023)
Number of employees	149,900 (2024)
Divisions	AT&T Communications AT&T Mexico
Subsidiaries	DirecTV (70%)
Primary ASN 7018

AT&T Inc. is a huge company based in Dallas, Texas, in the United States. The name "AT&T" comes from its old name, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. It is one of the biggest telecommunications companies in the world. It is also the largest wireless phone company in the United States. AT&T provides many services like mobile phones, home phones, internet, and satellite TV.

For most of the 1900s, AT&T was the only phone company in the U.S. This meant they had a monopoly, controlling all phone services. The company started in 1878 as the American District Telegraph Company. Over time, it grew through mergers and became Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. This company was a part of the original American Telephone and Telegraph Company, which was founded by Alexander Graham Bell in 1877.

In 1982, the U.S. government took legal action against AT&T. This led to the company being broken up into several smaller, independent phone companies. These were called "Baby Bells." One of these "Baby Bells" was Southwestern Bell Corporation (SBC). In 2005, SBC bought its old parent company, AT&T Corp. SBC then decided to use the more famous AT&T name and logo. The company you know today as AT&T Inc. was officially formed on December 30, 2005.

Since then, AT&T Inc. has grown even more by buying other companies. For example, it bought BellSouth in 2006, which made its wireless service, Cingular Wireless, fully part of AT&T. Cingular then became AT&T Mobility. AT&T also bought DirecTV in 2015, which is a satellite TV company. For a while, AT&T owned a big media company called WarnerMedia (which included Warner Bros. and HBO). However, in 2022, AT&T sold WarnerMedia to another company, focusing more on its main phone and internet services.

How AT&T Started and Grew

Early Days of AT&T (1885–1981)

AT&T began with the Bell Telephone Company, founded by Alexander Graham Bell and his partners in 1875. Bell had just invented the telephone. By 1881, it was called the American Bell Telephone Company.

In 1885, a part of this company, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T), was created. By 1899, AT&T became the main company. AT&T and its smaller companies created a huge phone network across the U.S. They had a monopoly on phone service for most of the 1900s. This big phone system was known as the Bell System, and people often called AT&T "Ma Bell."

Breaking Up and Coming Back Together (1982–2004)

In 1982, the U.S. government decided that AT&T was too big and had too much control. They made AT&T break up its local phone companies into seven separate companies. These were called "Regional Bell Operating Companies," or "Baby Bells." AT&T continued to offer long-distance phone calls, but it now had competition from other companies.

Southwestern Bell Corporation (SBC) was one of these "Baby Bells." SBC started buying other companies, including mobile phone businesses and other phone companies. In the late 1990s, SBC bought two more "Baby Bells," Pacific Telesis Group and Ameritech Corporation. During this time, the company changed its name to SBC Communications Inc. By 1998, SBC was one of the top companies in the U.S.

Buying Back the Old Parent Company (2005–2013)

On November 18, 2005, SBC Communications bought its former parent company, AT&T Corporation. This deal cost $16 billion. After this purchase, SBC decided to use the well-known AT&T name and brand. The company you know today as AT&T Inc. uses the history of the original AT&T Corporation, which goes back to 1877.

AT&T tried to buy another mobile phone company, T-Mobile, in 2011 for $39 billion. However, the U.S. government did not allow this merger to happen. AT&T had to give T-Mobile $3 billion in cash and access to some of its wireless airwaves.

In 2006, AT&T also bought BellSouth Corporation. This deal brought Cingular Wireless, a company AT&T partly owned, fully under AT&T's control. In 2007, Cingular stores were renamed AT&T stores.

Recent Changes and Growth (2013–Present)

In 2014, AT&T expanded into Mexico by buying two mobile phone companies, Iusacell and Nextel Mexico. AT&T combined these companies to create AT&T Mexico.

In 2015, AT&T bought DirecTV for $48.5 billion. DirecTV is a company that provides satellite television. AT&T planned to combine its home internet and TV services with DirecTV.

In 2016, AT&T announced a huge deal to buy Time Warner for $108.7 billion. Time Warner owned many media companies like Warner Bros. (movies and TV shows) and HBO. The U.S. government tried to stop this merger, but a judge allowed it to go forward in 2018. After the merger, Time Warner was renamed WarnerMedia.

After buying Time Warner, AT&T organized itself into four main parts:

• Communications: This included phone services (home and mobile) and TV services.
• WarnerMedia: This part had TV networks, movie studios, and HBO.
• AT&T Latin America: This covered wireless service in Mexico and video services in Latin America.
• Advertising and Analytics: This part focused on advertising.

In 2020, AT&T announced that John Stankey would become the new CEO. The company also started to focus on cutting costs.

In 2021, AT&T made some big changes. It sold a part of DirecTV to another company, making DirecTV a separate business again. Also, AT&T announced plans to sell its share of WarnerMedia. WarnerMedia then merged with another company called Discovery, Inc. to create Warner Bros. Discovery. This meant AT&T was no longer a major owner of movie studios and TV channels. This move helped AT&T focus more on its main telecommunications business.

AT&T's Phone Companies

After the big breakup of AT&T in 1982, several "Baby Bells" were formed. Today, the current AT&T company includes five of these original companies:

• Ameritech, bought by SBC in 1999
• AT&T Corp., bought by SBC in 2005
• BellSouth, bought by AT&T in 2006
• Pacific Telesis, bought by SBC in 1997
• Southwestern Bell, which became SBC Communications in 1995

Where AT&T Works

AT&T office in San Antonio, Texas

AT&T's main office is in Whitacre Tower in Dallas, Texas. In 2008, AT&T moved its main office to Dallas from San Antonio. They said this move would help them be closer to their customers and partners around the world.

AT&T also has offices and provides services in many other places. For example, its regional office for the Asia Pacific area is in Hong Kong. As mentioned, AT&T also has a strong presence in Mexico with AT&T Mexico.

AT&T's Leaders

AT&T has a board of directors and a team of leaders who help run the company. The current CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is John Stankey. These leaders make important decisions about the company's future.

How AT&T Works with Politics

AT&T is a very large company, so it often works with politicians and government groups in the United States. They donate money to political campaigns and talk to lawmakers about issues important to their business. For example, they have lobbied for rules about internet access.

In 2018, it was reported that AT&T had paid a company owned by President Donald Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen. AT&T said they hired him for "guidance" on things like tax changes and their merger with Time Warner. This led to some questions and investigations.

AT&T has also supported LGBTQ+ causes. However, they have also donated to politicians who support laws that are seen as against transgender rights in some U.S. states.

AT&T's Money Over Time

The company shares its financial information every year. This shows how much money AT&T makes, its profits, and its total value.

AT&T's Impact on the Environment

AT&T measures its carbon footprint, which is the amount of greenhouse gases it releases. In 2020, their carbon emissions were 5,788 kilotonnes. The company plans to reduce these emissions by 63% by 2030. This goal helps support the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming.

Buildings and Sponsorships

Buildings Named After AT&T

AT&T Midtown Center in Atlanta, Georgia

Many buildings across the United States are named after AT&T. Some of these include:

• Whitacre Tower (One AT&T Plaza) – The main headquarters in Dallas, Texas.
• AT&T Building – Also known as "The Batman Building" in Nashville, Tennessee.
• AT&T Midtown Center – A building in Atlanta, Georgia.
• AT&T Entertainment Group HQ – The DirecTV corporate campus in El Segundo, California.

Places and Events AT&T Sponsors

AT&T also sponsors many sports teams, stadiums, and events. This helps the company get its name out there. Some examples include:

• AT&T Field – A baseball stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
• AT&T Stadium – A large stadium in Arlington, Texas, home to the Dallas Cowboys football team.
• Jones AT&T Stadium – A college football stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
• The College Football Playoff National Championship.
• Teams like the Dallas Stars (ice hockey) and Houston Rockets (basketball).
• Major League Soccer (MLS) and the U.S. national soccer teams.

See Also

In Spanish: AT&T para niños