Cingular Reverting To AT&T Brand (Corrected)
Nov 21, 2005, 2:54 AM by (staff)
updated Jul 28, 2019, 3:38 PM
SBC CEO Ed Whitacre Friday stated that Cingular will take the AT&T name. SBC, which owns 60% of Cingular, has recently completed their purchase of AT&T. They have announced that they will rebrand their wireline services as AT&T. When asked if Cingular would similarly drop their name in favor of the AT&T brand, Whitacre said yes. BellSouth, which owns the other 40% of Cingular is not protesting the name change, as they believe it may create more revenue for the carrier. Ironically, Cingular has been investing a great deal to unify and advertise their brand name after buying out AT&T Wireless in 2004. Now it appears the company may try to reverse their efforts.
Corrected: A Cingular spokesman has confirmed that the carrier will continue to use the Cingular brand nationally and that the former SBC may re-sell Cingular service under the AT&T brand.
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Comments
No matter what you call it.... Its still not Verizon Quality
You can call it whatever you like...
Cingular
AT&T
at&t
cellular one
pinto
edsel
etc.. etc....
Same crappy network, different day, different name.
It will never reach the quality of Verizon service.
Just goes to show, you can give something a shiney name...
...but you cant polish a turd!
Cingular
AT&T
at&t
cellular one
pinto
edsel
etc.. etc....
Same crappy network, different day, different name.
It will never reach the quality of Verizon service.
Just goes to show, you can give something a shiney name...
...but you cant polish a turd!
ok tenmidgets
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Verizon has great quality? Please. I love Cingular and AT&T and I have had both as well as Sprint.
Cingular phones Kick azz. Looking at Verizon's lineup - I almost puked.
Cingular phones Kick azz. Looking at Verizon's lineup - I almost puked.
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i would agree with you if you talk about verizon's network, but if you compare their phone portfolio and rate plans to cingular i wont agree with you..
verizon has the best network and that is why they have the best brand image and gets the best s...
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verizon has the best network and that is why they have the best brand image and gets the best s...
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AT&T better rep than Cingular?!?!
Where are you people from?!? In the Southeast, Cingular is AMAZING! I've worked for several wireless companies & Cingular ranks #1 in customer service, coverage, cost, wide variety of & latest styles of devices, best technology, & most convenient service! Cingular BY FAR has a better rep that AT&T!
chrissybells said:...
Where are you people from?!? In the Southeast, Cingular is AMAZING! I've worked for several wireless companies & Cingular ranks #1 in customer service, coverage, cost, wide variety of & latest styles of devices,
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And for your info theres no roaming on the americas choice II plan within the US. If you go outside of the us of coarse u will pay roaming, thats like that with all carriers unless your on a special plan which will cover areas outside of the US and no...
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here we go again.... i started with attwireless... when the merger hit we had to dump all attwireless stuff, as in tshirts, lunchboxes. anything with the att name on it.... in fact. during call monitors we could not use the name att. we had to say "th...
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chrissybells said:...
Where are you people from?!? In the Southeast, Cingular is AMAZING! I've worked for several wireless companies & Cingular ranks #1 in customer service, coverage, cost, wide variety of & latest styles of devices,
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Cingular changin' its name to AT&T? Sounds like a good idea..
Its a good move on their part. A lotta Cingular's problem is their bad reputation (even Cingular's CEO admits their reputation ain't good), an' changin' their name to AT&T would be like a fresh start.
Also might make some of their former AT&T wireless customers a little happier, which is good since they is jumpin' ship on Cingular left an' right.
SBC as a whole changin' their name to AT&T is also good, since it ain't a household name. AT&T is.
Also might make some of their former AT&T wireless customers a little happier, which is good since they is jumpin' ship on Cingular left an' right.
SBC as a whole changin' their name to AT&T is also good, since it ain't a household name. AT&T is.
I agree with another thread in that i think they should just come up with a new name altogether. AT&T doesn't ring as good as Cingular (name wise) in my head.
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I agree, shock. This is going to be HUGE in the grand scheme of things.
Hitler is also a household name.
Maybe Germany should go back and restore Nazi icons and historical references to their culture.
Afterall, the swastika does have worldwide recognition.
Maybe Germany should go back and restore Nazi icons and historical references to their culture.
Afterall, the swastika does have worldwide recognition.
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SystemShock said:...
Its a good move on their part. A lotta Cingular's problem is their bad reputation (even Cingular's CEO admits their reputation ain't good), an' changin' their name to AT&T would be like a fresh start.
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What I find odd is that old AT&T was going to relaunch next year as a prepaid MVNO utilizing Sprint's network. A preemptive strike by Cingular to keep them from doing so????
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Everyone already associates Cingular and AT&T Wireless as the same company. I do not see how this will necessarily help them. Change is good, but sometimes it is not necessary. It cost Cingular a lot of money to change the AT&T stores over to Cingular...
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Why not just a new name.
👿
Why not just get a new name all together!
Think Verizon
It's already confusing customers that say they're Cingular when they're still on AT&T and now Cingular customers will think they're AT&T and the AT&T customer will be completely confused just make a new name AT&T has a bad rep around here and Cingular isn't that much better. New all together company, new name!
Why not just get a new name all together!
Think Verizon
It's already confusing customers that say they're Cingular when they're still on AT&T and now Cingular customers will think they're AT&T and the AT&T customer will be completely confused just make a new name AT&T has a bad rep around here and Cingular isn't that much better. New all together company, new name!
Hear, hear! I totally agree with you on this one. AT&T has a bad rep here. Cingular has a decent one and i prefer that name but if they're gonna drop it, they a new name altogether is a better choice.
I agree I expected a complete rebrand when the merger happened dropping the AT&T name altogether then and now doing the same to cingular is just going to confuse and frustrate their customers... the only possible good I can imagine from this is if it'...
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I disagree. I can't even count how many people in my market have said that they liked their service much better when it was AT&T (not that it has changed much since the merger) and that they are considering leaving Cingular to go to Verizon. The AT&...
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unwiredone said:...
👿
Why not just get a new name all together!
Think Verizon
It's already confusing customers that say they're Cingular when they're still on AT&T and now Cingular customers will think they're AT&T and
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I agree. For customers, there is no difference between AT&T and Cingular. I work in wireless, and whenever a "former AT&T" customer walks in to my store I ask which carrier they are with. 95% of them still claim that AT&T Wireless is their provider. ...
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The Next Sprint Nextel?
I wonder if it could be a good idea for Cingular to sub brand AT&T like Sprint does for Nextel. There's no confusion there. It's still one company but operates separately. Just sub brand the GoPhone and the WCDMA technology to AT&T and the PTT path to Cingular. Any ideas on this?
thats an interesting idea, but cingular isnt a good brand right now as well as its image so it is best just to create a whole new brand name and image.. ATT has a great brand name and i think it will be wise to put ATT back on.
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ACTUALLY
actually that was incorrectly reported by usa today - the ceo of cingular announced shortly thereafter that they would keep the cingular name for the wireless unit but that certain cities would see att wireless return as an MVNO
if that is true, it is just too confusing and i think a bad idea.. att wireless is a bad name and same with cingular.. perhaps changing the name all together or doing something else.
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The cingular ceo is just hacked that he has no control over the company. Bls and sbc OWN cingy the ceo doesn't.If Sbc and Bls wanna change the name of THIER company then that is totaly their right
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Misquoted/Misunderstood
Cingular is NOT changing its name! Here's the skinny...
SBC planned from the time Cingular purchased AT&T to resell wireless service under the AT&T brand. Cingular will supply this wireless service. This is the reason Cingular only had so many months to stop using the AT&T name in commercials and all other advertisments. It was part of the agreement when AT&T was purchased. SBC will offer a wireless service and call it "AT&T Wireless", but Cingular is the one that will supply this service.
The article in USA Today was extremly misleading and words were chosen poorly. I think we will see a correction or some other form of clarification on this soon.
SBC planned from the time Cingular purchased AT&T to resell wireless service under the AT&T brand. Cingular will supply this wireless service. This is the reason Cingular only had so many months to stop using the AT&T name in commercials and all other advertisments. It was part of the agreement when AT&T was purchased. SBC will offer a wireless service and call it "AT&T Wireless", but Cingular is the one that will supply this service.
The article in USA Today was extremly misleading and words were chosen poorly. I think we will see a correction or some other form of clarification on this soon.
I agree, very misleading. Worse than trying to interpret the bible. AT&T planned on reselling wireless, not SBC, and it was Sprint that would've provided the MVNO style service. Most of this was all pre-SBC buying out AT&T, though.
AT&T had t...
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AT&T had t...
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How long until another break-up?
Does anyone remember why AT&T was broken up in the first place? They were deemed a monopoly - and that was when they had the wireline services dominated. Now they've got wireline and wireless... wonder how long until the government breaks them up again for being an even bigger monopoly than their original parent.
SB2002 said:...
Does anyone remember why AT&T was broken up in the first place? They were deemed a monopoly - and that was when they had the wireline services dominated. Now they've got wireline and wireless... wonder how long until t
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As long as there is a Verizon, there won't be a breakup
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Mark Siegel, PR Director for Cingular clears the record...
"Cingular is most certainly NOT changing its name." This was the quote from Mark Siegel, Executive Director for Media and Analyst Relations with Cingular Wireless.
It appears that Ed Whitacre, CEO of SBC (now to be called AT&T) and Stan Sigman, CEO of Cingular, haven't spoken over the phone in a while.
Perhaps before CEOs of major companies go on the record and in the press they should consult their legal advisors?
Just a thought...
It appears that Ed Whitacre, CEO of SBC (now to be called AT&T) and Stan Sigman, CEO of Cingular, haven't spoken over the phone in a while.
Perhaps before CEOs of major companies go on the record and in the press they should consult their legal advisors?
Just a thought...
🤣 😈 😁
this is the funniest greatest story i can remember in wireless
this is the funniest greatest story i can remember in wireless
Good IDEA (in my view)
i like this idea, becuase i mentioned before cingular has a bad name right now and image, so changing it back to ATT is a lot better in my view becuase this gives them a fresh start to trying to improve on the metrics. (sub growth, call quality, arpu. etc..)
the ATT logo looks nice also..
the ATT logo looks nice also..
I agree. It'd be a good way fo' them to go. Jus' mo' name recognition. An' that new ATT logo IS dope. 🙂
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Jeez, more confusion from Cingular
So, to help with the bad rep they are getting as Cingular, they are changing their name?
Why not improve on the things that gave you the bad rep in the first place? 🙄
Why not improve on the things that gave you the bad rep in the first place? 🙄
I have ot say that they are making GREAT strides in customer service. They used to be a real pain to deal with, but lately, my calls to customer service have been pleasurable experiences. There are definately signs of them moving in the right direct...
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bones boy said:
So, to help with the bad rep they are getting as Cingular, they are changing their name?
Why not improve on the things that gave you the bad rep in the first place? 🙄
Why not? It wo...
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CONFIRMED- Not Changing name
As an agent, it was confirmed today, the name will not change. But the possibility exists that it might change in the future.
IDIOTS or BAD REPORTING
The press release is easily misinterpreted. That seems to be the way cellular companies and the media report things to us. This does not mean AT&T is going to replace the Cingular name. If you read careful ( and through my company not to be named, but you figure it out, a newsletter was filed) AT&T was asked by SBC to sell Cingular service in an AT&T branded store. This simply put means AT&T is going retail for GROUND COMMUNICATIONS. To quote "to use the AT&T name to market all the company's products — local, long-distance, wireless, data and video" that simply mean AT&T is going to sell ground communications service and Cingular Wireless ( yes the Cingular branded network) because it makes money and growth for AT&T stock holders and SBC. P...
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Sorry procellguy... I think you need to read a little more closely...
In an interview with USA TODAY on Friday, Whitacre left no doubt about his plans. Asked if the company planned to drop the Cingular name in favor of the AT&T brand, Whitacre said...
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In an interview with USA TODAY on Friday, Whitacre left no doubt about his plans. Asked if the company planned to drop the Cingular name in favor of the AT&T brand, Whitacre said...
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It was confirmed to me today, an agent, by my agent manager, that yes, the name WILL change. Its not sure to what, but most likly at&t in lower case letters. Before I posted my information I CONFIRMED it with people who would know.
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What's a jigger?
Sorry, never used the term re-jiggered before. I hope it's not some pejorative term Cingy made up in a meeting?
Another way of saying re-vamped, or changed.
i set out to prove u right, but was immediately let down by good ol' Merriam Webster:
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
jigger
One entry found for jigger.
Main Entry: 3jigger
Function: verb
Etymology: frequentative of 2jig
intransitive ...
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Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
jigger
One entry found for jigger.
Main Entry: 3jigger
Function: verb
Etymology: frequentative of 2jig
intransitive ...
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well you know how they say wigger, and I think we all know the definition of that. A Jigger is the same thing but it's when a japanese person replaces the white person in the name wigger. Get it? lol I don't know what a jigger is but that's the first ...
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A jigger is a bartending tool. It is used by bartenders who cannot free-pour. 1/2 oz. on one side and 1 oz. on the other. 🙂
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AT&T to Cingular to AT&T!?
Ok, i had at&t wireless...and they they were bought by Cingular, so i was with Cingular. Now after 1 year, we're going back to AT&T? I just got used to the idea of Cingular!
Oh plus on the Cingular webpage...it says "Former AT&T wireless customers click here." They should change it to "Former and future AT&T wireless customers click here," for aesthetic reasons.
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the lower cases are important!
In a related story ...
... Houston, Kansas and Los Angeles have decided to secede from the Cingular/AT&T oligarchy, and are reverting back to the brand names Houston Cellular, Kansas Cellular and LA Cellular respectively.
Additionally, Sprint, not wanting to be left out of the Monday morning news, is changing their name back to ... um ... well... Sprint.
Additionally, Sprint, not wanting to be left out of the Monday morning news, is changing their name back to ... um ... well... Sprint.
Additionally, Sprint, not wanting to be left out of the Monday morning news, is changing their name back to Sprint Spectrum.
😉
😉
Detroit/Ohio will become Ameritech Cellular
sprint has decided to revert to...
Southern Pacific Communications Company a division of the Southern Pacific Railroad
sprint has decided to revert to...
Southern Pacific Communications Company a division of the Southern Pacific Railroad
If that's not enough, Verizon has decided to use the name PrimeCo and Tmobile will go back to Arieal.
I wonder if that little alien has finally found his cell phone 🤣
I wonder if that little alien has finally found his cell phone 🤣
New AT&T website!
http://www.sbc.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news ... »
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The New AT&T Unveils New Corporate Logo on First Day as Nation's Largest Telecommunications Company...
Logo That Stands for Telecommunications Revitalized for New Era of Integrated Communications and Entertainment
San Antonio, Texas, November 21, 2005
The new AT&T began its first day as the nation's largest telecom company by introducing a revitalized corporate logo.
"Today's shift to a new brand and a new look symbolizes the strategic transformation under way at the new AT&T. It also reflects the fact that, while our brand has a long and proud heritage, the attributes that bring it to life for our customers are as fresh and new as ever," said Ed
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AT&T Will resell Cingular service
AT&T will bundle wireless with wireline on bills. The customer will only get a bill from them, not Cingular. Service is still Cingular, just AT&T is taking credit for it. Like SBC and BLS have already been doing for years.
CINGULAR IS NOT CHANGING THIER NAME
The USAToday report misquoted Ed Whiticre. The name is not changing.
According to RCR News (www.rcrnews.com) SBC is planning on launching a new wireless provider in select markets under the ATT Brand name, not changing Cingular's name.
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