Bellcore, also known as Bell Communications Research, is a former research and development company that provided technical and management support to the regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) in the United States. It was established in 1984 by AT&T, the parent company of the Bell System, as a result of the divestiture of AT&T into separate entities. The primary function of Bellcore was to conduct research, develop technologies, and provide consultancy services to the RBOCs.
With its headquarters located in Morristown, New Jersey, Bellcore played a crucial role in the telecommunications industry during its existence. It conducted extensive research in various scientific and technological fields related to telecommunications, including network management, software development, protocol design, and artificial intelligence.
Bellcore was responsible for developing and maintaining industry standards and specifications for telecommunications infrastructure, resulting in enhanced reliability, efficiency, and interoperability amongst the RBOCs. Its goals were to improve the quality of telecommunication services, reduce costs, and accelerate the deployment of advanced technologies within the Bell System.
In 1997, Bellcore was acquired by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and renamed Telcordia Technologies. Telcordia continued its support to the RBOCs and expanded its focus to include emerging technologies and Internet-related services. Today, Telcordia Technologies operates as part of Ericsson, a global telecommunications equipment and services provider.
