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I wonder how many remember: back in the days of dial-in BBSs (Bulletin Board Systems), some of them devoted to particular computer brands, the ones that concentrated on AT&T computers were in fact known as “Death Stars.”
Our government “heroes” seriously considered doing this to Microsoft back in the 90’s. Apple was dying fast and MS would have been the “last man standing” in the computing world. (Their greatest “sin” was daring to bundle Internet Explorer with Windows – which seemed to really rankle everyone.)
Bill Gates handed Apple a big wad of cash to keep them afloat and that seemed to settle everyone down. Apple released the iPod shortly thereafter and the rest is history.
My dad worked for Pacific Bell and lived and worked through the AT&T breakup. He had this cartoon on our refrigerator and then on a bulletin board in his rec room for years.
There are Pros and Cons to allowing Monopolies. The main Pro is increased efficiency which isn’t usually worth the main Con of price gouging, and the secondary one of stifling innovation.
But breaking them up doesn’t eliminate the obscene profits. Consider how when the Government broke up Stanard Oil, they actually increased the personal wealth of J. D. Rockefeller since he owned massive shares of the resulting smaller Oil Companies.
blackash2004-tree Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Nearly forty years later and AT&T owns CNN.
cherns Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I wonder how many remember: back in the days of dial-in BBSs (Bulletin Board Systems), some of them devoted to particular computer brands, the ones that concentrated on AT&T computers were in fact known as “Death Stars.”
biglar almost 5 years ago
Our government “heroes” seriously considered doing this to Microsoft back in the 90’s. Apple was dying fast and MS would have been the “last man standing” in the computing world. (Their greatest “sin” was daring to bundle Internet Explorer with Windows – which seemed to really rankle everyone.)
Bill Gates handed Apple a big wad of cash to keep them afloat and that seemed to settle everyone down. Apple released the iPod shortly thereafter and the rest is history.
Bob Blumenfeld almost 5 years ago
“Pop! Pop! Pop!”? Opus has a semi-automatic pop-gun?
azteccalanteater Premium Member almost 5 years ago
My dad worked for Pacific Bell and lived and worked through the AT&T breakup. He had this cartoon on our refrigerator and then on a bulletin board in his rec room for years.
neatslob Premium Member almost 5 years ago
At least we don’t have to worry about tangled phone cords any more.
CrunChewy McSandyButt almost 5 years ago
“Cheap phones whose cords tangle.” Now that’s a dated reference.
COL Crash almost 5 years ago
There are Pros and Cons to allowing Monopolies. The main Pro is increased efficiency which isn’t usually worth the main Con of price gouging, and the secondary one of stifling innovation.
But breaking them up doesn’t eliminate the obscene profits. Consider how when the Government broke up Stanard Oil, they actually increased the personal wealth of J. D. Rockefeller since he owned massive shares of the resulting smaller Oil Companies.
ryryo1106 almost 5 years ago
“Poink” has still got to be one of my favorite sound effects words, ever.
Spiffy almost 5 years ago
So the breakup of the Bell system was going to cause higher phone rates and phones with cords that tangled? Man did Berke blow this one!
Sisyphos almost 5 years ago
AT&T survives to offer shoddy and over-priced service right to this very day.
Sadly, I am a [customer] sucker….