AT&T
In the U.S. and in many parts of the world, AT&T’s globe logo is one of the most recognizable brands. This iconic logo was first used in 1984 after the original company was broken into separate entities. The globe and the white lines were believed to symbolize the global reach of the company, and it represented a world that was connected by electronic communications.
Today, AT&T is the world’s largest telecommunications company in the world in terms of revenue. It is the 17th largest mobile telecom operator with 130.4 million subscribers. According to Millward Brown, AT&T was the 6th most valuable brand in 2016.
Where It All Started
Perhaps AT&T’s success stems from the fact that it originated with one of the most brilliant minds the world has ever had, Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. In 1885 AT&T was launched as the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, a subsidiary of the Bell Telephone Company which was launched by Alexander Graham Bell. The company developed through several name and logo changes before it became what it is today.
As the company grew and evolved, its scientists invented the transistor, a major component in modern electronics, and they developed the concept of cell phones. AT&T launched the world’s first commercial cell phone system in 1983, the same year AT&T divested its local phone companies. Before merging with the SBC communications in 2005, both companies acquired other communication companies including the Ameritech Corporation. The two companies merged under the name AT&T Inc., and to symbolize the change, the logo was modified again.
Diversification
AT&T has diversified its business over the years, and the brand is currently associated with both high-speed internet and digital television. The company also provides telecommunication equipment, video services.
In 2015, AT&T acquired DirecTV, a company that uses satellite transmissions to provide audio and TV services in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America. This services gives its subscribers access to hundreds of channels, and is a major competitor of cable television and other satellite TV services.
Sponsorship
In an effort to further their brand and make it more recognizable, AT&T has in the past, sponsored several major sports tournaments. A few golf tournaments that were sponsored by AT&T include AT&T Byron Nelson, AT&T Champions Classic, AT&T Championship, the AT&T National, and the AT&T Classic.
Other entities that have or are currently being sponsored by AT&T include the Cotton Bowl Classic, Major league soccer, the U.S. national soccer teams, the United States Olympics Team, Red Bull Racing, and the Mexico national football team.
AT&T also owns several buildings, most of which are branded by the communication giants including the AT&T Centre in LA, the AT&T tower in Minneapolis, and the Franklin Centre in Chicago.
AT&T has invested billions of dollars to expand its reach in the United States and beyond. The brand is very popular because decades ago, it gave billions of people in the world a medium to communicate.
