ATT stock: What is AT&T (NYSE: T) upto? And their stock price?
Kenneth J. Dickson
ATT stock: What is AT&T (NYSE: T) upto? And their stock price?
This article provides us with a brief look at AT&T and the ATT stock price. The company is now trading at prices last seen in the mid-90s after running up in 2000 to nearly $60 and then down to $20 just a couple of short years later. It's also an attractive choice for its increasing dividend, gaining 20% in less than two years.
 AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)
AT&T is an old and respected company stretching back in American history to 1875 when the telephone was invented. American Telephone and Telegraph Company began as the Bell Telephone Company in 1877; in 1882 AT&T bought a majority interest in Western Electric and had a supplier for their equipment. Not only did the company pioneer the availability of phone service for ordinary households, they accomplished the first transatlantic and transpacific phone service.
Credit for the first coaxial cable network and the first broadband transmission medium also goes to AT&T, who developed mobile telephone service as early as 1946 and the concept of cellular service even before the technology was available. The transistor was first developed in AT&T laboratories and they launched the first communications satellite, Telstar 1, in 1962.  Later years saw AT&T branching out into all sorts of communications enterprises; Lucent, the highly successful technology corporation is part of AT&T, which was spun off to initial great success.
New Directions
This company has come a long way from hand cranked telephones, earning a reputation for innovative research and implementation that few companies can even aspire to. Our 911 system is an AT&T invention and they continue to explore new avenues for communications, pioneering the VoIP alternative to voice communication in 2004. Their new fiber optic phone, television services and broadband computer networks are now being installed in millions of households, ushering in a new era of technology to make life safer, easier and better for everyone.
Investment Prospects
AT&T has proven to be an excellent long term investment. Like all other stocks, the price fluctuates but over the long run it holds its value with frequent increases in dividends. One reason is its varied interests in the communications industry but its value lies in the basic services that governments, commercial interests, public service industries and ordinary people depend on in everyday life. The last thing anyone will sacrifice, even in the worst of economic times, is their communications and entertainment and AT&T has a firm hold on that market.
With subsidiary corporations scattered around the globe, AT&T has a very solid financial foundation backed by excellent management, cost control and the foresight of continued research to introduce new and innovative products. Their research departments are constantly improving current products and introducing new ones. Although the ATT stock may show occasional dips, for the most part this appears to be a very good investment with consistent returns and solid growth for the future.
A Bright Future?
It's recently partnered with Apple to launch the iPhone and iPhone 3G to critical acclaim. Despite problems with switch-ons the iPhone has brought a whole new generation to AT&T at a time when traditional landline markets are under pressure. Whatever the deal with Apple has done for Apple, it's really been a boon to profits for AT&T as plans are generally fairly expensive.
So would you buy, hold or sell ATT stock? Did you buy an iPhone? Are you impressed with their service or dividends?
Return from ATT stock price to Dow Jones Stocks.
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