AT&T Information Systems
| File:AT&T Globe logo.svg The AT&T Globe emblem, originally created by Saul Bass for American Bell | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer technology, telephone equipment sales |
| Predecessor | American Bell, Inc. |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Archie J. McGill (as head of American Bell Advanced Information Systems) |
| Fate | Absorbed into American Telephone and Telegraph Company by 1989 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Archie J. McGill (head of American Bell Advanced Information Systems) |
| Products | AT&T PC 6300, 3B series computers, AT&T UNIX PC, Merlin telephone systems |
| Parent | AT&T Corporation |
AT&T Information Systems (ATTIS), originally known as American Bell, operated as a distinct subsidiary of AT&T Corporation concentrating on ventures in computer technology, telephone equipment sales, and other non-regulated sectors. Established in the aftermath of the breakup of the Bell System, it emerged as one of AT&T's principal divisions. ATTIS utilized a 25% ownership in Olivetti to develop the AT&T PC 6300 product line, alongside its 3B series computers and AT&T UNIX PC, implementing a diversified approach to compete with the industry leader IBM.
History
After the Bell System's dissolution in January 1984, AT&T Corporation—then recognized as the largest company globally—was authorized to participate in the computer industry. Due to FCC mandates from Computer Inquiry I and II, Western Electric was restricted from marketing enhanced services except via a fully independent AT&T subsidiary. This restriction led to the formation of American Bell, Inc. in 1982.
Market experts predicted that American Bell, together with Bell Labs and Western Electric, would pose a significant challenge to IBM’s supremacy. The debut of the 3B series computers in March 1984 was regarded as a pivotal event on par with IBM’s 1981 PC launch. AT&T’s extensive technological resources and scale were anticipated to offer a competitive edge by assuring customers of sustained product support. Nonetheless, bureaucratic obstacles remained between American Bell and other AT&T divisions.
American Bell consisted of two primary segments:
- American Bell Consumer Products – focused on residential telephones and terminal devices
- American Bell Advanced Information Systems – concentrated on business telephone systems such as the Merlin, personal computers, and mid-range Unix-based machines
On January 1, 1983, American Bell Advanced Information Systems (AIS) was established as an unregulated AT&T subsidiary designed to directly rival IBM in communications and computing markets. Headed by Archie J. McGill—a seasoned executive with extensive experience at IBM—AIS aimed to position AT&T strategically for competition amid deregulation in high-technology fields. AIS made its public debut on New Year's Eve 1983 in Times Square with a branded crystal globe replacing the traditional countdown ball drop. In 1984, AIS was rebranded as AT&T Information Systems, marking its official foray into the competitive computing arena.
Logo
The AT&T Globe emblem, created by Saul Bass and colloquially termed the "Death Star" due to its resemblance to the Star Wars weapon, originated with American Bell. Following Judge Greene’s ruling that prohibited AT&T from using Bell trademarks after the breakup—except for Bell Labs—AT&T adopted the Globe symbol as its corporate identity.
Post-breakup
After divestiture, American Bell was renamed AT&T Information Systems effective January 1, 1984. Its components were reorganized: American Bell Advanced Information Systems was merged into AT&T Network Systems, while American Bell Consumer Products became part of AT&T Consumer Products under AT&T Technologies. AT&T Information Systems operated independently until FCC deregulation in 1986, after which it was fully absorbed into American Telephone and Telegraph Company by 1989.
AT&T PC 6300
On December 22, 1983, AT&T purchased a 25% ownership interest in the Italian computer manufacturer Olivetti, facilitating collaboration in production capabilities. This alliance led to the creation of the AT&T PC 6300, which was essentially a rebranded version of the Olivetti M24 desktop, introduced in June 1984.
Marketed as an entry-level machine, the PC 6300 featured a 16-bit Intel 8086 processor operating at nearly twice the clock rate of the IBM PC, positioning it as a competitor to the IBM PC AT. Initially bundled with MS-DOS, it was subsequently made available with Microsoft's Xenix operating system, demonstrating AT&T's approach to broadening its footprint in the personal computing sector through diversified hardware and software offerings.