AT&T Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in downtown Dallas, Texas….as AT&T is the world’s largest telecommunications company….while being the second largest provider of mobile telephone services….and the largest provider of fixed telephone services in the United States. AT&T Inc. began its history as Southwestern Bell Telephone Company….which was a subsidiary of the Bell Telephone Company….which was founded by Alexander Graham Bell in 1880. Bell Telephone Company evolved into American Telephone and Telegraph Company in 1885….which was then rebranded to AT&T Corporation….but following the 1982 United States v. AT&T antitrust lawsuit….what resulted was the divestiture of AT&T Corp.’s (“Ma Bell”) subsidiaries or Regional Bell Operating Companies (“Baby Bells”)….which resulted in several independent companies including Southwestern Bell Corporation…..who changed its name to SBC Communications Inc. in 1995. In 2005, SBC purchased former parent AT&T Corporation and took on its branding….with the merged entity naming itself AT&T Inc…..and using the iconic AT&T logo and stock-trading symbol. In 2006, AT&T Inc. acquired BellSouth, the last independent Baby Bell….thus making their formerly joint venture Cingular Wireless (which had acquired AT&T Wireless in 2004) wholly owned and rebranding it to AT&T Mobility…as the current AT&T Inc. reconstitutes much of the former Bell System….and includes ten of the original 22 Bell Operating Companies…. along with the original long distance division…..so, they are almost back where they started before the government stepped in….and that is HUGE!!!
L A Beer was introduced by Anhueser-Busch (Budweiser) in 1984 in honor of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics….which is near and dear to our hearts here at ImaSportsphile….cuz Bone Daddy was part of a 3-man team of Olympic fans that set a record that can never be broken….only tied….for these 3 record setters saw a live event in every sport competed in at the 1984 Games….that’s right….26 sports….26 events….only tied, never broken….so, L A Beer is special…cuz BD drank his fair share while there.
Johnson Controls International Plc is a multi-national conglomerate headquartered in Cork, Irelan that produces automotive parts such as batteries and electronics….plus HVAC equipment for large buildings. It employs 170,000 people in more than 1,300 locations across six continents. As of 2016 it was listed 242nd in the Fortune Global 500….while becoming ineligible for the Fortune 500 in 2017….as it was headquartered outside the U.S.
