The future of telecoms is murky at best – U S West divestitures boosted bottom line at expense of Qwest’s future

Welcome, readers, to another edition of “Spot the generational differences.”

This week, we’re gauging your reaction to the news that CenturyTel Inc. is buying western U.S. telephone company Qwest Communications International Inc.

Which response most closely matches your reaction?

A) Geez Louise, could they just stop messing with phone company names and owners already? Pacific Northwest Bell, U S West, Qwest, whatever the new name will be – I can’t keep straight who I’m supposed to make my monthly check out to.

B) This is hardly surprising. With people abandoning their traditional land lines, telephone companies have to adapt to the new reality.

C) What’s this mean for the name on that stadium in Seattle where the Seahawks play? And what’s a Qwest?

D) What’s a phone company?

Full Story: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/02/1171108/the-future-of-telecoms-is-murky.html

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U S West divestitures boosted bottom line at expense of Qwest’s future

Along the way, top executives from Sol Trujillo to Joe Nacchio to Dick Notebaert made hundreds of millions of dollars as thousands of employees lost their jobs and retirees lost their promised benefits.

By Andy Vuong

Full Story: http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14996460