Den Haag, 27 oktober 2005 – David W. Dorman, de voorzitter en CEO van AT&T, reageert op de aankondiging van SBC Communications dat ze de naam AT&T zullen aannemen nadat de fusie van de twee bedrijven rond is.
" We zijn heel tevreden dat de combinatie AT&T en SBC Communications Inc. na het formele afronden van de fusie de naam AT&T zal aannemen. Deze beslissing is een krachtige bevestiging van de blijvende sterkte van het AT&T merk. AT&T is immers duidelijk de meest bekende communicatiemerknaam in de Verenigde Staten en in de hele wereld. De beslissing is ook een erkenning voor het werk van onze medewerkers. Gedurende 120 jaar hebben ze samen een trotse erfenis van innovatie, kwaliteit, integriteit en betrouwbaarheid opgebouwd."
" Natuurlijk zullen de twee bedrijven als onafhankelijke entiteiten blijven werken tot de fusie is voltooid. Maar we kijken ernaar uit om onze klanten te introduceren in een nieuw tijdperk van geïntegreerde communicatie, informatiediensten en entertainment onder het sterke, verenigde AT&T merk."
Over AT&T
AT&T (www.att.com) is wereldwijd toonaangevend op het gebied van voice- en datacommunicatie voor particulieren, bedrijven en overheden. AT&T biedt een van de modernste communicatienetwerken en wordt hierbij ondersteund door de research en development mogelijkheden van AT&T Labs. De organisatie is toonaangevend op het gebied van zakelijke data- en internetdiensten en biedt outsourcing, consultancy en netwerkintegratie voor grote organisaties. AT&T is eveneens een marktleider op het gebied van lokale, interlokale en internetdiensten en transactiegebaseerde diensten in de Verenigde Staten zoals prepaid telefoonkaarten, collect calling en telefonische inlichtingen. De jaaromzet van AT&T bedroeg in 2004 $30,5 miljard. Meer dan 40 miljoen particulieren en 4 miljoen zakelijke klanten vertrouwen dagelijks op de kwalitatief hoogwaardige communicatie van AT&T. AT&T is meermaals onderscheiden voor uitstekende performance en klantondersteuning. Voor meer informatie over AT&T in Europa: www.att.com/emea
Voor redactionele informatie:
Marald Brons
Influx PR
055 - 3663034
marald@influx-pr.com
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Persinformatie - Engelse versie AT&T bericht en News Release SBC
Statement of AT&T Chairman Dorman in response to SBC Communications announcement that it will adopt AT&T name upon conclusion of merger agreement
Thursday, October 27, 2005 -- The following statement can be attributed to AT&T Chairman and CEO David W. Dorman in response to SBC Communications announcement today that it will adopt AT&T name upon conclusion of the two companies proposed merger agreement:
"We are very pleased to know that the combined AT&T Corporation and SBC Communications Inc. will adopt the AT&T name upon the formal close of the merger. This decision is a powerful endorsement of the enduring strength of the AT&T brand, which is far and away the most recognized communications brand in the U.S. and around the globe. The decision is also a tribute to our employees, who for 120 years have worked so hard to build a proud heritage of innovation, quality service, integrity and reliability.
"Obviously, our two companies will continue to operate as separate entities until the merger is completed, but we look forward to taking our customers into a new era of integrated communications, information services and entertainment under a strong, unified AT&T brand."
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News Release
SBC COMMUNICATIONS TO ADOPT AT&T NAME
Following Merger Approval, Combined SBC-AT&T Will Build on a 120-Year Heritage of Innovation, Service Quality, Integrity, Reliability
New AT&T Logo to be Unveiled at Merger Close, Major Multimedia Advertising, Marketing Campaign to be Launched
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (October 27, 2005) – The brand known worldwide for telecommunications innovation, quality and reliability will soon become synonymous with the transition to a new era of integrated communications and entertainment services.
SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) today announced it will adopt AT&T, Inc. as its name following completion of its acquisition of AT&T (NYSE:T), which is expected in late 2005.
"The AT&T name has a proud and storied heritage, as well as unparalleled recognition around the globe among both businesses and consumers," said Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO of SBC Communications Inc. "No name is better-suited than AT&T to represent the new company’s passion to deliver innovation, reliability, quality, integrity and unsurpassed customer care. This is the brand that will lead the industry in delivering the next generation of communications and entertainment services."
The decision is a milestone in the history of telecommunications, extending the reign of an American and global icon. AT&T is inextricably linked to the birth and growth of the communications industry – delivering ground-breaking innovations that enabled modern computers and electronic devices, wireless phones and Voice over IP (VoIP). The brand also has represented quality service, integrity and reliability for more than 120 years.
At close, the new company will unveil a fresh, new logo. After completion of the merger, the transition to the new brand will be heavily promoted with the largest multimedia advertising and marketing campaign in either company’s history, as well as through other promotional initiatives. At close, the company will also announce the stock market ticker symbol it intends to use.
The famed AT&T brand will be used in a broad array of services offered by the family of companies. The brand transition will begin immediately upon merger close, along with the integration of networks, product and service portfolios, and customer care systems. The new brand will be incorporated into product and service offerings, and will appear on bills and correspondence, as well as on company buildings.
With these traits and long heritage, the AT&T brand will provide a strong platform as the combined company leads the industry’s evolution to a new generation of Internet Protocol (IP)-based services, which can be delivered via wireline or wireless networks to any number of enabled devices such as mobile phones, PCs and hand-held digital devices.
The AT&T brand was selected because it provides the best brand platform to bridge the combined companies’ wide range of customer segments, diverse geographies and robust portfolio of products, services and customer care. The AT&T brand is especially strong in the critical enterprise market, where leading chief information officers and industry experts widely acknowledge it as the brand of choice and where it is strongly associated with industry innovation and leadership. Additionally, it has almost universal awareness as a communications brand: Internal research shows that in the United States, consumer awareness of the AT&T brand is
98 percent and business awareness is virtually 100 percent, while global awareness is nearly as high.
"The AT&T brand reflects what customers are looking for in a provider," Whitacre said. "They want the latest technology and services, but they also want reliability, quality and trustworthiness. Only the AT&T brand offers this ideal combination of traits."
Neither SBC nor AT&T residential, business or wholesale customers are required to take action as a result of today’s announcement. They will continue to be served by their current provider as they have been in the past. They should order services, pay bills and request help from their current provider as they always have. Customers can visit www.sbc.com/newsroom for more details.
Strengthening a 120-Year Heritage for the 21st Century
The communications industry is currently in the midst of the most substantial technology change in more than 100 years. IP allows the delivery of voice, data, video and entertainment services over a single network infrastructure, enabling integration of services like never before. Ultimately, the SBC-AT&T merger is driven by the objective to deliver a full range of these integrated IP services to customers, accessible seamlessly via wireline or wireless connections.
"The brand we associate with the invention of the telecommunications industry is the brand that will soon represent the re-invention of communications and entertainment," Whitacre said. "The combination of SBC and AT&T will bring together the right assets and the right strategy to be a very strong competitor in this new IP-based services market, and we fully intend to make the most of this once-in-a-century opportunity."
This strategy will be enabled by the combination of SBC’s and AT&T’s complementary strengths. In fact, SBC local service and broadband capabilities – 50.2 million access lines and 6.5 million DSL lines in service – and the advanced and powerful AT&T global IP backbone network and software infrastructure will give the new company unparalleled IP assets in the marketplace. Together, the two companies can maximize those assets and develop new IP innovations more effectively than either company could on its own. In addition, SBC companies offer nationwide wireless coverage through Cingular Wireless, which has more than 52.3 million subscribers across the country. SBC owns 60 percent of Cingular.
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About SBC
SBC Communications Inc. is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves more than 52 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.