Bell System facts for kids
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). The Bell System provided telephone service to most of the United States and Canada. Some times, it was a monopoly.
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).
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. 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.
Images for kids
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Logo used from 1889 to 1900
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1912 Bell System advertisement promoting its slogan for universal service
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Logo style of Bell System affiliated companies from 1921 to 1969
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195 Broadway, AT&T headquarters for most of the 20th century
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The Spirit of Communication as used on the Bell System's directories in the 1930s–40s
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Manhole cover with Bell System logo
