AT &T was founded in 1885. Specifically, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company was incorporated on March 3, 1885 , as a subsidiary of American Bell Telephone Company to build long-distance networks.

Origins Story

Picture this: Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone in 1876, sparking a communications revolution. By 1877, he and partners form the Bell Telephone Company. It evolves—National Bell Telephone in 1879, then American Bell—and by 1885, AT &T emerges to connect cities like New York to Chicago (1892) and San Francisco (1915).

This wasn't just a company; it became "Ma Bell," a telephony monopoly shaping 20th-century America.

Key Milestones

  • 1876 : Bell invents telephone.
  • 1877 : Bell Telephone Company founded.
  • 1885 : AT &T incorporated for long-distance service.
  • 1899 : AT&T becomes Bell System parent.
  • 1984 : Breakup births modern iterations like SBC, which reacquires AT&T name in 2005.

Era| Event| Impact
---|---|---
1870s| Invention & Bell Co.| Local calls begin 9
1880s| AT &T Launch| Long-distance pioneer 3
1900s-1980s| Monopoly growth| Dominates U.S. telecom 1
2000s| Rebirth via mergers| Wireless, internet giant 2

Modern Context

Today, AT&T thrives in wireless and broadband, but its 1885 roots define its legacy—no major 2026 news shifts this history. Forums echo this: "AT&T's story starts with Bell's genius."

TL;DR : Founded March 3, 1885.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.