Report: AT&T to disconnect the Cingular name in 2007

[ComicalMoodyDan]

AT&T to disconnect the Cingular name
Phone giant plans to eliminate brand name and logo in 2007, renaming its mobile unit 'AT&T Wireless,' magazine says.
May 2, 2006: 9:26 AM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - AT&T plans to abandon the Cingular brand name for its cell phone service as early as 2007, according to a magazine report. The company says it is making the change to reduce customer confusion about its brands, and will rename the division "AT&T Wireless," according to Advertising Age.

AT&T (Research) wants to sell customers bundled landline, Internet and wireless services under the same brand. Advertising experts say the move could bring heavy marketing costs, as much as $500 million each year for several years, the report said. AT&T first announced plans to shed the Cingular name after its merger with SBC closed in November 2005.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/02/tech...n=money_latest

[ShoresGuy]

That sure doesn't come as a surprise. I'm pretty this is SBC's main strategy in trying to restore some of the former AT&T prestige and also to bank on the legacy that the original AT&T left behind.

I wouldn't be surprised if AT&T will try to get in good with Alcatel to get Lucent back as well. That remains to be seen though.

[Critic]

While I can certainly understand SBC/at&t consolidating their brand identity, I'm surprised they aren't going with something more along the lines of "at&t mobile" rather than "wireless" - for one, there's still something of a tarnish on the old ATTWS name; for another, "mobile" works better with ancillary branding (medianet, or mLife, if they wanted to bring that one back).

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Critic

While I can certainly understand SBC/at&t consolidating their brand identity, I'm surprised they aren't going with something more along the lines of "at&t mobile" rather than "wireless" - for one, there's still something of a tarnish on the old ATTWS name; for another, "mobile" works better with ancillary branding (medianet, or mLife, if they wanted to bring that one back).

I guess they are figuring that the memory is short and most people will have forgotten about the issues with AWE, of course I never had any so I can't really say it will be a problem with me, and I am sure the way they had marketed the change from AWE to Cingular & they way they are advertising the SBC/AT&T name changes it will work in their benefit. As for the whole medianet or mLife, maybe they will come up with something better to call it.

I really think they will need to get any blue customers left to migrate over before this happens to prevent more confusion then there already is, maybe once the billing is done they will come up with an incentive program to migrate.

[agentHibby]

I say they should go with the name AT&T Mobile so there is no confusion of the AT&T Wireless of old.

Hey Bobo what are your thoughts??

[bobolito]

I guess we haven't learned how short people's memory is. I'm sure they will be allright with "AT&T Wireless". SBC surely is a weaker name than Verizon, that's why they picked AT&T.

[ShoresGuy]

Imagine if they were to call Cingular "SBC Wireless". Sounds a bit strange .

[chuikov]

They should stick with the Cingular name for the wireless division. Cingular spent a few billion marketing the name and logo and ATT is just stodgy and old sounding in comparison.

And I was just getting used to calling AWS sites "Cingular Blue"!

[Andy]

Originally Posted by chuikov

They should stick with the Cingular name for the wireless division. Cingular spent a few billion marketing the name and logo and ATT is just stodgy and old sounding in comparison.

I agree; the old AT&T Wireless has memories in people's minds in some areas, whereas with the new Cingular name and branding people tended to forget that the Cingular network in some of the areas I mentioned is just the old AT&T network they used to complain about.

[ShoresGuy]

I wonder if SBC has even considered doing a poll to see which name their customers would prefer since the important key to success is to know what the customer thinks/wants.

[AnthroMatt]

They don't care! THey are big, bad AT&T and they want to throw their name around wherever possible!

It's about arrogance...not what makes good business sense. I mean c'mon...they spent how much money saying "AT&T Wireless and Cingular have joined forces" to make the new CIngular and now they will spend much, much more to say "Cingular is now AT&T Wireless." Lunacy, I say!

[Yankees368]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

I agree; the old AT&T Wireless has memories in people's minds in some areas, whereas with the new Cingular name and branding people tended to forget that the Cingular network in some of the areas I mentioned is just the old AT&T network they used to complain about.

That's right. In the NYC area, when cingular first came about they were using the crappy T-mobile system. When they merged with ATT, Cingular just moved over the the ATT network. The only difference is that it was ATTs GSM network, not the overworked and patchy TDMA network.

[Airb330]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

I say they should go with the name AT&T Mobile so there is no confusion of the AT&T Wireless of old.

Hey Bobo what are your thoughts??

I agree 100%. In fact, back in 01ish they were considering the name 'AT&T Mobile'. I think that'd be a better name, or just "AT&T". ATT Wireless brings back bad memories, and the word wireless is definitely circa 1996! I really don't think people are going to switch just for the name, it's not 1950, it's 2006. People associate Cingular with good service, or bad service. I think it's an extreme waste of money, but I guess in the long run it'll be worth it for them. Either way, that 4 billion on 'Cingular' they spent 2 years ago seems wasted and there are billions of hungry people out in the world and it frankly pi**es me off.

[adgsteve]

Originally Posted by Fire14

I really think they will need to get any blue customers left to migrate over before this happens to prevent more confusion then there already is, maybe once the billing is done they will come up with an incentive program to migrate.

Tom, hush about the Blue customers.

I don't care what they want to call it, I just rather they leave my plan alone

[Shizam76]

Oh man....I will hate this name rebranding. My phone (RAZR) shows the cingular splat when I have the flip open...are they going to change that too? Probably not.

I HATE SBC...which is now at&t home phone service and DSL...I got rid of their It was WAY too much money for what they called service. I have vonage home phone and Comcast cable modem. I want nothing to do with the new at&t home phone/DSL/Satellite, etc whatever they offer....I don't know if I can handle their name on my cell service

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by adgsteve

Tom, hush about the Blue customers.

I don't care what they want to call it, I just rather they leave my plan alone

I am hoping they will just let us keep our plans and give us new phones with SIM's. (It pays to dream)

[TurboDan]

To all the naysayers:

Remember five years ago when "Samsung" meant crappy computers, cheap TVs, and second-rate audio equipment? Now, they make the some of the best HDTVs on the market, first-rate audio equipment, and are seen as one of the most fresh and innovative consumer electronics brand.

It's not the NAME, but the QUALITY. I would've NEVER bought a Samsung TV a few years back - now, I would brag about owning one.

Same thing applies here. Offer good quality service and the customers will follow. With the new logo and a good marketing campaign, the power of the AT&T name can be used to promote a new, modern company.

[Yankees368]

Originally Posted by TurboDan

To all the naysayers:

Remember five years ago when "Samsung" meant crappy computers, cheap TVs, and second-rate audio equipment? Now, they make the some of the best HDTVs on the market, first-rate audio equipment, and are seen as one of the most fresh and innovative consumer electronics brand.

It's not the NAME, but the QUALITY. I would've NEVER bought a Samsung TV a few years back - now, I would brag about owning one.

Same thing applies here. Offer good quality service and the customers will follow. With the new logo and a good marketing campaign, the power of the AT&T name can be used to promote a new, modern company.

It's true. We have a 50 inch Samsung DLP back home...awesome

[walkguru]

i think they will do just fine with the wireless name.

[LORENA_FL]

My personal experience with AT&T has always been a positive one. I love my plan... I been on it for years....

What I don't get why is it that everytime you call they want you to change to the Cingular side???

I just don't get it...

To be honest I liked the former AT&T customer service... at least my experience was always positive...

Lorena

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by LORENA_FL

My personal experience with AT&T has always been a positive one. I love my plan... I been on it for years....

What I don't get why is it that everytime you call they want you to change to the Cingular side???

I just don't get it...

To be honest I liked the former AT&T customer service... at least my experience was always positive...

Lorena

Because they want everyone on there billing system & to take away our great plans for the standard plans they have now, that will give you less minutes for more money.
Those of us that still have AWE plans have excellent mins and extra's that now cost you money to get.
That's the nature of business to make more money for the shareholders, but with competition we can benfit by getting better plans for less money, and the better the networks get, the more competative they will get then we should end up with even better plans down the road.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Because they want everyone on there billing system & to take away our great plans for the standard plans they have now, that will give you less minutes for more money.
Those of us that still have AWE plans have excellent mins and extra's that now cost you money to get.
That's the nature of business to make more money for the shareholders, but with competition we can benfit by getting better plans for less money, and the better the networks get, the more competative they will get then we should end up with even better plans down the road.

Yes, competition is good. I've made it a habit to jump plans about every 2 years as better stuff comes along. I'd hate to be on my original plan from 2000! If I remember right it was 200 peak minutes, 500 N&W, had a calling area from Doswell, Va to Philly, PA and roaming outside that area cost $5.00/mo + $0.75/min. I also had this crappy voicemail that I couldn't check, I had to wait for it to call me. Sometimes I'd hit it just right and not be in a service area every time it tried to call me so I wouldn't get messages for days sometimes.
All those features for $34.99/mo. Good riddens to that plan!

-Jay

[AnthroMatt]

Originally Posted by LORENA_FL

My personal experience with AT&T has always been a positive one. I love my plan... I been on it for years....

What I don't get why is it that everytime you call they want you to change to the Cingular side???

I just don't get it...

To be honest I liked the former AT&T customer service... at least my experience was always positive...

Lorena

I'll agree with you. When I had AWS the service was good, the plans were decent, and I never had much need to call customer service.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Yes, competition is good. I've made it a habit to jump plans about every 2 years as better stuff comes along. I'd hate to be on my original plan from 2000! If I remember right it was 200 peak minutes, 500 N&W, had a calling area from Doswell, Va to Philly, PA and roaming outside that area cost $5.00/mo + $0.75/min. I also had this crappy voicemail that I couldn't check, I had to wait for it to call me. Sometimes I'd hit it just right and not be in a service area every time it tried to call me so I wouldn't get messages for days sometimes.
All those features for $34.99/mo. Good riddens to that plan!

-Jay

I know for me with my older Blue plan that I am still on I have 900 Anytime mins with the unlimited M2M, N&W and it's a National plan. The only thing I blew was not getting the Early N&W for free when they offered it.
Plus I get unlimited incoming SMS & Message retrivals don't use my mins either.
This is on a $59.99 family plan, so I don't see me migrating over unless they offer me something similar, hopefully they will follow Sprint & offer the free 7PM N&W feature, then I might consider it.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Fire14

I know for me with my older Blue plan that I am still on I have 900 Anytime mins with the unlimited M2M, N&W and it's a National plan. The only thing I blew was not getting the Early N&W for free when they offered it.
Plus I get unlimited incoming SMS & Message retrivals don't use my mins either.
This is on a $59.99 family plan, so I don't see me migrating over unless they offer me something similar, hopefully they will follow Sprint & offer the free 7PM N&W feature, then I might consider it.

When, if ever (Although I think its inevitable) do you think they will force people like you onto orange plans?

-Jay

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by TurboDan

To all the naysayers:

Remember five years ago when "Samsung" meant crappy computers, cheap TVs, and second-rate audio equipment? Now, they make the some of the best HDTVs on the market, first-rate audio equipment, and are seen as one of the most fresh and innovative consumer electronics brand.

It's not the NAME, but the QUALITY. I would've NEVER bought a Samsung TV a few years back - now, I would brag about owning one.

Same thing applies here. Offer good quality service and the customers will follow. With the new logo and a good marketing campaign, the power of the AT&T name can be used to promote a new, modern company.

I couldn't have said it better. You are absolutely right about that. I used to compare Samsung with cheap brands like Soundesign, Yorx, and other wannabe's. Now I brag about having a 21" LCD computer monitor bearing the Samsung name. Today, Samsung means innovation and quality at an affodrable price to me and it is comparable to all-time champions like Panasonic and Sony. Unless Stan Sigman screws up 3G on Cingular, I am willing to bet AT&T will be a very prestigious name in wireless. HSDPA has lots of potential.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

When, if ever (Although I think its inevitable) do you think they will force people like you onto orange plans?

-Jay

They said after the initial merger that anyone not migrated over by the end of 06 or 1st half of 07 would be put on the Orange billing system & have Rollover mins on there accounts. But with the possibility of going back to the AT&T Wireless name, they may push that up to prevent too much confusion with current Blue Customers.
I really think by the 2nd Qtr of 07 the latest they will want Blue customers to become Orange customers - so everyone can then become Blue customers all at once
then they will be able to do the name change with very little problems at all.

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by Fire14

They said after the initial merger that anyone not migrated over by the end of 06 or 1st half of 07 would be put on the Orange billing system & have Rollover mins on there accounts. But with the possibility of going back to the AT&T Wireless name, they may push that up to prevent too much confusion with current Blue Customers.
I really think by the 2nd Qtr of 07 the latest they will want Blue customers to become Orange customers - so everyone can then become Blue customers all at once
then they will be able to do the name change with very little problems at all.

Former Cingular, former AT&T, current Cingular and soon to be AT&T, there is no more blue and no more orange you're all now blorange, deal with it or switch.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

Former Cingular, former AT&T, current Cingular and soon to be AT&T, there is no more blue and no more orange you're all now blorange, deal with it or switch.

Ok Blorange is a new & different color, I thought they would come up with something dumb like green or purple. I could deal with Blorange

[SteveW]

Originally Posted by Critic

While I can certainly understand SBC/at&t consolidating their brand identity, I'm surprised they aren't going with something more along the lines of "at&t mobile" rather than "wireless" - for one, there's still something of a tarnish on the old ATTWS name; for another, "mobile" works better with ancillary branding (medianet, or mLife, if they wanted to bring that one back).

Just catching up on this thread...

"AT&T Mobile" would also be better worldwide. I've heard "call my mobile" from UK and Australian colleagues more often than "my cell". And its basically the same word in Spanish and Italian. Not that the marketing gurus here care, apparently.