Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

SBC Plans Move to Single National Brand (Goodbye Pacific Bell, Ameritech, Southwestern Bell)
Dow Jones Business News | December 10, 2002

Posted on 12/10/2002 3:00:23 PM PST by HAL9000

SAN ANTONIO -- SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC - News) plans to move to a single national brand to provide a more unified presence in the marketplace, making it easier for customers to find and do business with SBC companies.

In a press release Tuesday, the company said the move to a single national brand will unify offerings previously marketed through regional brands such as SBC Southwestern Bell, SBC Pacific Bell, SBC Nevada Bell and SBC Ameritech.

SBC companies will continue to offer wireless service nationwide through Cingular Wireless, SBC's joint venture with BellSouth Corp.

"Adopting a single, unified SBC brand underscores our transformation from a collection of regional companies with separate identities into a national telecommunications leader with a single identity," said Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and chief executive. He added that the company's main competitors possess national brands, and to compete more effectively, it's critical for SBC to have a national identity.

The move to a single brand identity is the harbinger of nationally standardized products and pricing, centralized customer care and the creation of coast-to-coast national data and IP backbone networks, SBC said in a statement.

As it works toward regulatory approval to offer long-distance service, SBC metropolitan networks are being interconnected with 30 out-of-region networks in markets such as New York City, Boston and Miami.

The SBC SNET brand will continue to be used in Connecticut.



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ameritech; bell; nevadabell; pacificbell; sbc; southwesternbell

1 posted on 12/10/2002 3:00:23 PM PST by HAL9000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
Didn't the feds break up AT&T and create the baby bells ?
Looks like SBC is getting the old band back together.
2 posted on 12/10/2002 3:09:23 PM PST by stylin19a
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stylin19a
A single national brand -- Bell Telephone Company.
3 posted on 12/10/2002 3:11:51 PM PST by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: stylin19a
Looks like SBC is getting the old band back together

The 'band'as you put it, has been back together for mmore than 2 years already. The only thing this changes is the name by which all the various subsidiaries are known by.

For instance, right after the merger, it was Ameritech, an SBC company. After people got used to that, they made it SBC Ameritech. Now it's just SBC.

4 posted on 12/10/2002 3:13:27 PM PST by Trust but Verify
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: stylin19a
GTE at least used to be an independent competitor to the Bell system. Now it has been assimilated into a Baby Bell as well.
5 posted on 12/10/2002 3:18:51 PM PST by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Bogey78O
Is "SBC" an acronym? What does it stand for?
6 posted on 12/10/2002 9:29:03 PM PST by HAL9000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
Is "SBC" an acronym? What does it stand for?

Southwestern Bell Communications is the parent. Headquartered in ol' San Antone.

7 posted on 12/10/2002 9:36:55 PM PST by okie01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson