Illinois Bell

Illinois Bell Telephone Company

Type	Private (Subsidiary of AT&T)
Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	1881
Headquarters	Chicago, IL, USA
Key people	Paul La Schiazza, President
Products	Local Telephone Service
Parent	AT&T (1920-1983) Ameritech (1984-1999) SBC/AT&T (1999-present)
Website	http://www.att.com

Illinois Bell is the name of the Bell Operating Company serving Illinois. It is wholly owned by AT&T.

Their headquarters are at 225 West Randolph St., Chicago, IL. After the 1984 Bell System Divestiture, Illinois Bell became a part of Ameritech, one of the 7 original Regional Bell Operating Companies. The Illinois Bell name continued to be used until January 1993, when Ameritech dropped all of their individual Bell Operating Company names in favor of using their corporate name, Ameritech, for marketing purposes.

In 1998, Ameritech announced intentions to merge with SBC, another former RBOC. Though the merger wasn't well received at first, it was allowed to occur with some conditions. The two companies were officially merged as of October 8, 1999. The Ameritech name continued to be used until 2002, despite the merger.

In 2002, SBC dropped the Ameritech name in favor of "SBC" as a national brand. On January 1, 2003, Illinois Bell, for regulatory business, was renamed Illinois Bell Telephone Company d/b/a SBC Illinois. Illinois Bell's legal name was changed once again in 2006, following conclusion of SBC Communications' purchase of AT&T, to Illinois Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Illinois.

Illinois Bell, in 1971, became the first ever telephone company to offer Call waiting, Three-way calling, Speed Calling, and Call forwarding, all popular local exchange carrier telephone service options to this day.

Logos

	Illinois Bell Telephone Co. In 1920, Illinois Bell Telephone is formed, and it receives its own Bell logo. The logo contains "Illinois Bell Telephone Co.", along with the standard "American Telephone & Telegraph Co." This particular logo is used until 1939.
	Illinois Bell In 1969, AT&T revamped its corporate identity, resulting in a simplified Bell logo, absent of "Bell System". This logo will remain with IBT until 1983; "An Ameritech Company" conjoined the logo in 1984.
	Ameritech Illinois In 1993, Ameritech chooses to do business as one "Ameritech", and drops the names of its Bells in advertising, and comes with a new logo. This logo remains until 2001.
	SBC Global Network In 1999, SBC acquires Ameritech. Shortly after, SBC begins attaching "SBC Global Network" to the ends of its subsidiary logos, resulting in this logo.
	SBC Ameritech Illinois In 2001, SBC proceeds to "unify" its companies by adding the "SBC" corporate logo to the operating company logos, and begins advertising Ameritech Illinois as "SBC Ameritech Illinois".
	SBC Illinois SBC eventually drops the names of all of its Bells in late 2002, and adds the title "d/b/a SBC (name of state or region)" to the official names of its companies on January 1, 2003. Illinois Bell's d/b/a name becomes "SBC Illinois". SBC, later AT&T, retains "SBC Ameritech" on cards on its payphones, in order to better separate its operating regions.
	AT&T Illinois In 2005, SBC completed its acquisition of AT&T Corp., forming AT&T, Inc. AT&T changes the d/b/a names of its Bell Operating Companies on January 1, 2006, resulting in "AT&T Illinois".

External links

• Vintage advertising bookmarks of the Illinois Bell Telephone Co.