AT&T Comeback

Anthony Wayne    900 Numbers, Telemedia     900 Numbers, AT&T

AT&T, once the largest company in the world, now ranks 18th in sales.

When Advanced Telecom Services began its business in 1989, AT&T was the largest company in the world.  That made the business of 900 numbers so attractive to the founders of ATS.  Being supported by the largest company in the world was certainly an attractive opportunity.

22 years later, AT&T is no longer supporting the 900 number product that created the initial opportunity for the business.  And, it is no longer the largest company in the world.  That honor is now taken by Wal-Mart.  By far.

Wal-Mart sales in 2009 were $408 billion which easily put it ahead of Dutch oil giant Shell at $278 billion, according to Forbes magazine.  AT&T holds down 18th place with $123 billion in sales.

When it comes to profits, there’s an interesting group of companies at the top of the international profit charts.  Russian oil company Gazprom is number one at $24 billion in profits.  The top six most profitable companies are all in the oil business until ICBC (China’s largest bank) comes in seventh place.  AT&T ranks 16th with a not so shabby $12 billion in profits in 2009.

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