Bell Telephone Company

Bell and others formed the Bell Telephone Company in July 1877. In 1879, it merged with the New England Telephone Company forming the National Telephone Company, which was renamed the American Bell Telephone Company in 1880. Along with Thomas Edison, Bell formed the Oriental Telephone Company on January 25, 1881. On March 3, 1885, American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) was formed to supervise the expanding long-distance business of the American Bell Telephone Company. AT&T became the overall investment company for all the Bell ventures, and remains active today.