Among Britons, name of AT&T rings few bells

Article Abstract:

AT&T has been offering long-distance telephone services in Britain for almost two years, but the company remains relatively unknown in that country. AT&T entered this market by purchasing a British company that provides telecommunications services to large corporations. AT&T received a consumer telephone license in Dec 1994, its first to permit the company to resell local phone services in a foreign country. The company launched a program for business users in Jan 1996 and began offering residential services in July. Prices for calls to the US are priced up to 40% less than British Telecommunications' (BT) rates. AT&T has garnered just 1% of the market. BT controls 90% of all local connections and AT&T customers must enter special three-digit numbers to use the company's service. BT has lowered its prices dramatically and launched a TV promotional campaign to combat the competition.

United Kingdom, Telecommunications systems, Market share, Company analysis, Company market share

---

Cincinnati Bell to buy AT&T customer-aid unit

Article Abstract:

AT&T announces, in the week of Dec 22, 1997, it will sell its customer-service operation, Solutions Customer Care, to Matrixx Marketing Inc, owned by Cincinnati Bell, in a deal valued at $625 million. The arrangement is seen as a continuation of AT&T's policy, under its new chairman, C. Michael Armstrong, of spinning off nonessential businesses in order to concentrate on communications. In the previous week, AT&T announced an agreement to sell its Universal Credit credit-card business to Citicorp for $4 billion, and earlier in the month, a small stake in DirectTV, owned by General Motors' Hughes Electronics Corp, was divested. AT&T Solutions Care, formerly AT&T American Transtech, brings in about $400 million of revenues annually. It operates customer-service call centers and help desks.

Cincinnati Bell Inc., CSN, AT and T Solutions Customer Care, MATRIXX Marketing Inc.

---

AT&T to buy Teleport for $11.3 billion: investors, analysts applaud long-distance giant's local-phone strategy

Article Abstract:

AT&T said it will acquire local phone company Teleport Communications Group for $11.3 billion in stock. The second-largest ever AT&T deal signals the leading US long-distance provider's move to enter the local-phone market and compete with Bell networks that are nearing the long-distance business. Financial terms call for Teleport shareholders to receive 0.943 share of AT&T for each shared owned, or $59.06 a share, in a tax-free exchange. Teleport, which offers local phone service mostly to business customers in 66 major US cities, bypasses Bells. AT&T could boost the approximately 250,000 nationwide Teleport direct communications lines, launching a pre-emptive strike in Bell territories. AT&T serves 90 million long-distance customers, including 10 million business clients.

Teleport Communications Group Inc., TCGI

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Clinton enters battle over telecom bill: President attacks plan; aide cites veto threat. On $700 billion data highway, persuasion has a polite frenzy
• Abstracts: AT&T stock falls 9.8% on weak forecast; slowdown in long distance will cause net to drop up to 14% in 3rd quarter
• Abstracts: McAfee Associates agrees to acquire Network General for $1.3 billion in stock. Microsoft to buy maker of FrontPage, software to create Internet Web pages
• Abstracts: In AT&T's attic, $1 billion of flops and fumbles. Some applause for AT&T's shake-up. AT&T to pay $11.3 billion for Teleport: seeks to expand into local US markets
• Abstracts: SAIC is near agreement to buy Bellcore; the $700 million accord for Bell's research arm could come this week. News Corp. and an affiliate of TCI set tentative accord to control Primestar

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.