Sprint Nextel: Then and now

- Brown Telephone Co., Sprint’s predecessor, founded

- Brown changes name to United Utilities

- United Utilities changes name to United Telecommunications

- United Telecom launches world’s first Public Data Network

- William T. Esrey becomes United Telecom CEO

- GTE Sprint and Telenet merge with the United Telecom properties US Telecom, Uninet, and ISACOMM, forming US Sprint

- United Telecom begins long-distance service and “pin drop” campaign under Sprint name

- US Sprint debuts nation’s first 100 percent digital, fiber-optic network

- US Sprint provides industry’s first transatlantic fiber optic phone connection

- US Sprint forms international subsidiary

- United Telecom completes acquisition of US Sprint

- United Telecom changes name to Sprint Corp., becomes first carrier to offer commercial Internet access

- Sprint merges with Centel; becomes first major company to provide local, long-distance and wireless services

- Sprint completes first nationwide 100 percent digital PCS wireless network; spins off cellular division into 360 Communications Co.; creates Global One alliance with Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom

- Nextel’s iDEN service goes national

- Sprint launches ION project to provide voice, video and data services over existing telephone lines; assumes 100 percent ownership of Sprint PCS joint venture with Tele-Communications Inc., Comcast and Cox companies; forms Internet service alliance with EarthLink Network; sells 360 Communications to Alltel

- Sprint announces merger with MCI WorldCom; company to be called WorldCom

- Sprint and MCI WorldCom sever agreement to merge, citing antitrust concerns; Sprint sells its interest in Global One

- Sprint forms alliance with Dell Computer; Sprint ends ION project to focus on data and wireless; Sprint forms alliance with America Online

- Sprint completes national 3G network upgrade

- Gary Forsee becomes Sprint CEO; Sprint initiates voice phone service with cable companies

- Sprint and Nextel merge to form Sprint Nextel Corp.; Sprint’s separately traded wireless tracking stock, “PCS,” is absorbed into Sprint’s “FON” stock on the NYSE

- Sprint Nextel spins off landline telephone business to newly created Embarq

- Daniel Hesse becomes Sprint Nextel CEO

- Sprint Nextel enters WiMax wireless network venture with Intel, Google, Comcast, TimeWarner Cable, Clearwire Corp. and others; Sprint Nextel and Clearwire merge; CenturyTel acquires Embarq; Sprint announces about 10,000 job cuts

- Sprint Nextel outsources its wireless network management to Ericsson; Sprint Nextel acquires Virgin Mobile USA

- Sprint Nextel rolls out 4G wireless broadband

- Sprint Nextel begins carrying Apple’s iPhone 4

This story was originally published October 15, 2012 at 11:43 PM with the headline "Sprint Nextel: Then and now."