AT&T Dumping Cingular Brand Explained by Stephen Colbert

[Jason Dunn]

I was watching The Colbert Report (http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/index.jhtml) a few days ago (hilarious TV show) and I saw something that I just had to take a screen capture of: Colbert explained the entire history of AT&T and the companies they broke off into, then re-absorbed through mergers.

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/cingular-renamed-at&t.jpg

I think that graphic says it all. :lol: From my point of view, AT&T is making a huge branding mistake by getting rid of the Cingular name and brand. As I said in this thread (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=83660), AT&T is a legacy brand that makes me think of the '70s, telephones with rotary dial mechanisms, bad customer service, and bloated inefficiency. Cingular, on the other hand, makes me think bright orange, mobile phones, and wireless data. They spent years and millions of dollars building up the Cingular brand name, and now it's all gone. In fact, I think I'd actually feel embarrassed to have a phone with the words AT&T on it (as illogical as that sounds). It's like having a phone that says "Sears" on it. Old brands that have no place in the modern era. Well that's how I feel about it, how about you?

[xyphos]

I totally agree with what you mean by being embarrassed to have a phone that says AT&T on it.

[Rocco Augusto]

i don't care either way. AT&T Wireless was a solid company with some awesome deals. I can tell you if they brought back the $99 unlimited everything plan as well as the ability to upgrade whenever you wanted, I would be all over it in a heartbeat! :)

[Kris Kumar]

Colbert and Stewart have a knack for making the us understand complex things. I loved when Stewart explained Net Neutrality, and now this.

:rotfl:

I had to go search for the clipping, here it is, (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Bj1Mtv9cD0I) Colbert explaining the journey of a telecom company from AT&T to at&t. :lol:

[scottb]

...AT&T is a legacy brand that makes me think of the '70s, telephones with rotary dial mechanisms...

This may be true, but I also think of phones that ALWAYS worked. In those days your phone worked all the time. Storm? No eletricity? No problem! Your phone still works.
Yes, the AT&T name is a bit dated, but it says "Dependable" much more than Cingular ever did.

[Kris Kumar]

I don't think I care for either name. But why are they wasting money on advertising and all that name change costs, instead of focusing on 3G deployment. :roll:

[Jerry Raia]

I totally agree, the AT&T brand should be buried and forgotten! Now I have it all over me like a cheap suit! My land line and now my mobile. :evil:

[srsabu]

i don't care either way. AT&T Wireless was a solid company with some awesome deals.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. I still have my old "Blue" plan because switching to a somewhat equivalent "Orange" plan would cost me an extra $30 / month (60%) and still not match the features I have. I'm dreading the day when they make me switch.