GTE and AT&T; plan to form a...

GTE and AT&T; plan to form a joint venture that will bring advanced-technology features to GTE’s digital telephone switching systems. Under the agreement in principle, AT&T; will license certain switch and related technologies to the venture, which would be composed of the network-switching business of GTE Communication Systems, based in Phoenix. GTE would initially hold a 51% interest, but AT&T; would eventually assume full ownership of the new company. Terms were not disclosed.