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Rant: Is it Cingular or AT&T?
January 9th, 2007 | by Brett DerricottThis has nothing to do with advertising and technology other than stemming from another blog post of mine about the new iPhone and its affect on the Web, but I’ve got to explore this thing for just a second.
So the iPhone is only available with Cingular. I’m a Verizon customer so that sucks for me. But I’m wondering…Cingular…they’re the old AT&T Wireless, right? Looks like they’re also the new AT&T Wireless.
I’m confused.
AT&T Wireless had horrible customer service, failed miserably overall, and sold out to Cingular. I’ve heard that Cingular has done a better job than AT&T (I left AT&T before the Cingular switchover) so the move seemed to be wise. Now AT&T is announcing they’ve acquired Cingular.
Seems like a big switcheroo to me. I can imagine the boardroom discussions on this one.
AT&T Executive 1: “Polls are in. Customers think AT&T Wireless sucks.”
AT&T Executive 2: “Let’s sell it off.”
Several years later…
AT&T Executive 1: “Cingular seems to be doing well. I’ll bet everyone has forgotten how bad AT&T was by now.”
AT&T Executive 2: “Let’s buy Cingular.”
I’m sure Apple had good reasons for choosing Cingular, but I’m less inclined to want to use Cingular now that they’re actually AT&T again. I’m hoping the iPhone/Cingular exclusivity is short lived.
Comments
@Steven: Glad to hear things have improved since I left AT&T.
The reason for your confusion is simple. AT&T had nothing to do with AT&T Wireless.
AT&T Wireless was at one time part of AT&T(T). But in 2000 it spun off as it’s own entity, AT&T Wireless (AWE). It paid licensing fees to AT&T to use the name “AT&T”, but was a seperate company, with very little in common.
AT&T Wireless(AWE) ran itself into the ground by 2004, due to gross mis-management, and had to sell to Cingular.
Then in 2005, the old parent company AT&T(T), merges with SBC (Southwest Bell) the managing partner of Cingular. It, AT&T,decides it needs to offer wireless as part of its “Triple Play” of service packages (phone, DSL, wireless), so now is changing the name of Cingular to AT&T.
It’s simple, well not really, it’s quite incestuous…..
I have been a cingular customer for eight years or so, first in Connecticut (NYCburb), then moved in utah last year. Cingular was wierd here the first three months after they bought AT&T, but kicked into gear fast.I always liked cingular best and still do. Many friends had Verizon in the east Cingualr was simply better. I travel for rural photography in the west, and they all have serious work to do if you get off the interstate!