Company Timeline

1919

 A Tradition Of Innovation begins in 1913, when the telephone itself was still a modern convenience many had never seen, the company that would one day be CorrWireless.

1933

 Oneonta Telephone Company was founded in Oneonta, Alabama.  R.C. Corr, Sr., known around town as “Pappy,” didn’t let the fact that a depression was going on to stop him from buying the business on January 17, 1933.  While his wife Varilla worked as operator to connect callers, Pappy did everything from setting poles to stringing lines.

1951

 In 1951, Oneonta Telephone Company installed the first XY switching system in Alabama.  Customers could call each other directly without ringing Varilla to ask to be connected.

1963

 Recognition: in the fall of 1963, we became the second system in the nation to install Direct Distance Dialing.

1967

 Mobile Telephone Service followed in 1967, and radio voice paging came along in 1969.

1971

 In 1971 Oneonta was one of the first electronic exchanges in the nation, making fast pushbutton dialing possible.  A year later, we expanded to offer cable TV.

1981

 As one of the first fully digital central offices in the nation, on December 19, 1981, the company began offering advanced features such as call waiting, and call forwarding.  It was the end of party lines – all customers could have a private line of their own.

1986

 One of the industry’s first computer-based mapping systems was introduced in 1986 to increase productivity of line crews.

1989

 On July 17, 1989, we were the first small independent company in the five south central states and among the first in the U.S. with an equal access switching system that allowed customers to choose their own long distance carrier.

1992

 March of 1992 was the beginning of our first cellular service.

1994

 In December of 1994 our new AT&T landline switch allowed us to offer customers such advanced features as voice mail, Caller ID, automatic redial, and automatic callback

1996

 Fiber optics installed in a new subdivision in 1996 allowed simultaneous transmission of cable TV and phone service over the same cable.  We were among the first telephone companies to utilize this new technology.

1997

 After the launch of Otelco long distance in May of 1996, we began offering internet service through our North Alabama Cellular company in July of 1997.

1999

 Then, focusing our mission on digital cellular and internet service, we sold our landline assets and CATV on January 6, 1999.  Our parent company’s name was changed to Corr, Inc. and we began offering wireless telephone services across North Alabama and into Tennessee.

2002

 Corr Wireless expands to 19 locations in Alabama.

2003

 Overlayed our network with GSM digital technology. Began to offer local GPRS data service to all of our customers.  Also started rolling out Phase II E911 to make for better location of E911 calls.

2004

 Added nationwide roaming for GPRS data service.  Started adding high gain antennas as well as higher output amplifiers to increase our signal network wide.  Expanded with new cell sites into the Scottsboro market.

2005

 Adopted "The Phone Guy" as our spokesperson in advertising in July.  We also expanded our Customer Care Group to ensure customer satisfaction. We upgraded select markets to EDGE data for increase data speeds, these markets were some of the first in the state to see this type of upgrade.

2006

 Expanded our network even further to include Rome, Ga; Ft Payne, Al; and Centre, Al.

2007

 Deployed a new high capacity SMSC (short message service center) from InterOp technologies allowing for faster and more reliable SMS service. Installed a new high capacity HLR (home location register) from Nortel Networks allowing for increased subscriber growth.

2008

 Began offering Nationwide Unlimited Service, including Nationwide Unlimited Corr As U Go prepaid service and Regional Corr As U Go prepaid service with Nationwide Unlimited Long Distance. Installed a new USP (Universal signaling point) from Nortel Networks to allow for ease of integration for next generation networks. Deployed a new Phase II E911 system from Andrew Corporation to better locate 911 calls on our network and to allow for future expansion for E911 calls using A-GPS.