GTE and AT&T; formed a joint venture,...

GTE and AT&T; formed a joint venture, AG Communication Systems, to speed availability of advanced technology features to GTE’s digital telephone switching systems. The venture, announced last summer, will be based at GTE Communication Systems’ headquarters in Phoenix after that unit and its 4,900 employees are transferred to AG Communication. Jack M. Kirker, former GTE Communication Systems president, will head the venture, initially 51% owned by GTE but becoming fully owned by AT&T; after 15 years.