- Lucent Technologies started off as the equipment manufacturing part of AT&T Technologies, created in 1983. This manufacturing arm also included Bell Laboratories, founded in 1925.
- Alcatel has its roots in two telecommunications companies: Western Electric (1869) and La Compagnie Générale d'Electricité (1898).
- In 1995, AT&T Techologies was renamed to Lucent Technologies, which it spun off into a separate company in 1996. Its first CEO was Henry Schacht and the company became profitable in 1997.
- Between 1997 and 1999 Lucent acquired over 30 companies, including Ascend Communications, a communications equipment manufacturer. Its stocks were widely held, and soared.
- In 2000, Lucent fell into financial troubles due to poor performance and some reportedly questionable business practices ending up in a civil fraud case. It sold off its Consumer Products section and spun off its Business Systems section, followed by Microelectronics in 2002. Downsizing and stock devaluation followed.
- In 2006, Lucent merged with Alcatel in France to become Alcatel-Lucent, continuing its work in communications technology.
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