Comments on: Rant: Cingular is now the new AT&T. I get it. http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/ Where TV Finds the Future Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:22:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Richard A. Aspinall Sr. http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-410047 Richard A. Aspinall Sr. Thu, 12 Jul 2007 22:05:19 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-410047 I had a prepaid cell with Cingular. They told me they were going to new technology. Said I had to buy more minutes[I had 690] Buy new phone or lose everything. Because it was prepaid I couldn't take my # to another company. I called my sen. she filed a complaint with FCC they talked to 'The New AT&T" and I was told new policy AT&T would refund money, just go to special website after 4-1-07, [this was 2-7-07] and file claim and get refund. I was told yesterday 7-11-07, that my claim was invalid because my account expired 3-31-07. What's wrong with this picture? I had a prepaid cell with Cingular. They told me they were going to new technology. Said I had to buy more minutes[I had 690] Buy new phone or lose everything. Because it was prepaid I couldn’t take my # to another company. I called my sen. she filed a complaint with FCC they talked to ‘The New AT&T” and I was told new policy AT&T would refund money, just go to special website after 4-1-07, [this was 2-7-07] and file claim and get refund. I was told yesterday 7-11-07, that my claim was invalid because my account expired 3-31-07. What’s wrong with this picture?

]]> By: Chris Weaver http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-293943 Chris Weaver Wed, 02 May 2007 03:12:06 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-293943 Part of the problem with not fully changing the branding is NASCAR's contract with series sponsor Nextel which WON'T allow the Cingular Sponsored Race Team to rebrand with a new name and logos on the race car. The Cingular brand was grandfathered in as a sponsor when NASCAR's top series changed series sponsors from Winston to NEXTEL. Cingular/AT&T has filed action against NASCAR and Nextel in Federal Court. Meanwhile Cingular/AT&T is running endless "Cingular is the new AT&T" ads and other other Graphic Placements during the NASCAR TV Broadcasts. Since they can't put the AT&T logo on the car on the track they are rubbing it in with these other paid ads. Part of the problem with not fully changing the branding is NASCAR’s contract with series sponsor Nextel which WON’T allow the Cingular Sponsored Race Team to rebrand with a new name and logos on the race car.

The Cingular brand was grandfathered in as a sponsor when NASCAR’s top series changed series sponsors from Winston to NEXTEL.

Cingular/AT&T has filed action against NASCAR and Nextel in Federal Court.

Meanwhile Cingular/AT&T is running endless “Cingular is the new AT&T” ads and other other Graphic Placements during the NASCAR TV Broadcasts.

Since they can’t put the AT&T logo on the car on the track they are rubbing it in with these other paid ads.

]]> By: Jason http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-293070 Jason Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:11:22 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-293070 This has something to do with the fact that the AT&T/Cingular/Bellsouth merger has not gotten final regulatory approval. I believe once final approval is granted, the Cingular and Bellsouth names will fall away. This has something to do with the fact that the AT&T/Cingular/Bellsouth merger has not gotten final regulatory approval. I believe once final approval is granted, the Cingular and Bellsouth names will fall away.

]]> By: James http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292939 James Mon, 30 Apr 2007 10:29:23 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292939 I just saw a banner ad on NBC.com for "Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular," so it looks like we're on to phase two. I just saw a banner ad on NBC.com for “Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular,” so it looks like we’re on to phase two.

]]> By: Dave http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292689 Dave Mon, 30 Apr 2007 02:55:23 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292689 ALL ROUND THE WORLD!!! Enough. I can only take so much of the Gallaghers. ALL ROUND THE WORLD!!!

Enough. I can only take so much of the Gallaghers.

]]> By: Safran http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292525 Safran Sun, 29 Apr 2007 21:56:39 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292525 Jason - agreed. What's they're doing is reinforcing the Cingular brand. And I hadn't even gone there, but you're right - there's a whole third "Cingular is now the new at&t" brand. And they're actually trying to get across at least TWO messages in one awkward sentence: 1. Cingular has changed its name and 2. "The new at&t" isn't that old AT&T. Mitch: I admit they've got the campaign in my head. But so what? I'm a Verizon Wireless customer. "Can you hear me now" is an effective campaign. It has become part of the vernacular. It's a challenge to the other guys. I dare say it's the most effective campaign ever run by a cellphone company. It is designed to draw customers into Verizon Wireless. Even if you don't think the Verizon Wireless service is any better, the campaign has put it in your head that it is. "Cingular is the new at&t" tells me nothing, apart from the name change. It doesn't tempt me to join Cingular or at&t or whatever. I STILL see signs for Cingular. How about taking that ad campaign money and spending it on new signage? Jason - agreed. What’s they’re doing is reinforcing the Cingular brand. And I hadn’t even gone there, but you’re right - there’s a whole third “Cingular is now the new at&t” brand. And they’re actually trying to get across at least TWO messages in one awkward sentence: 1. Cingular has changed its name and 2. “The new at&t” isn’t that old AT&T.

Mitch: I admit they’ve got the campaign in my head. But so what? I’m a Verizon Wireless customer. “Can you hear me now” is an effective campaign. It has become part of the vernacular. It’s a challenge to the other guys. I dare say it’s the most effective campaign ever run by a cellphone company. It is designed to draw customers into Verizon Wireless. Even if you don’t think the Verizon Wireless service is any better, the campaign has put it in your head that it is.

“Cingular is the new at&t” tells me nothing, apart from the name change. It doesn’t tempt me to join Cingular or at&t or whatever. I STILL see signs for Cingular. How about taking that ad campaign money and spending it on new signage?

]]> By: Jason Parker http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292489 Jason Parker Sun, 29 Apr 2007 21:10:27 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292489 If anything, this long, drawn-out campaign is more confusing, not less. I mean, the fact that the Cingular brand hasn't gone away makes me wonder if it ever is. I had both Bellsouth and Cingular for local and cell, respectively, but right now I've really got no idea what company(ies) is(are) providing me with phone service. What Mitch said is exactly right, but it's also the problem. at&t (it's lowercase now, so cool!) wanted to convince people that 'Cingular' IS now 'at&t' but by running the ads so much, they've accidentally created a new third brand, 'Cingular is the new at&t,' rather than inform them that one is now part of the other. Which will only confuse people more when they do eventually drop the Cingular name altogether. If anything, this long, drawn-out campaign is more confusing, not less. I mean, the fact that the Cingular brand hasn’t gone away makes me wonder if it ever is. I had both Bellsouth and Cingular for local and cell, respectively, but right now I’ve really got no idea what company(ies) is(are) providing me with phone service.

What Mitch said is exactly right, but it’s also the problem. at&t (it’s lowercase now, so cool!) wanted to convince people that ‘Cingular’ IS now ‘at&t’ but by running the ads so much, they’ve accidentally created a new third brand, ‘Cingular is the new at&t,’ rather than inform them that one is now part of the other. Which will only confuse people more when they do eventually drop the Cingular name altogether.

]]> By: thechicagochannel http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292330 thechicagochannel Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:14:17 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292330 i get better reception 300 miles away from home than i do in my own kitchen. the new at&t is still the same old cingular. i get better reception 300 miles away from home than i do in my own kitchen.

the new at&t is still the same old cingular.

]]> By: Mitch http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292321 Mitch Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:06:25 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292321 It's because they're doing it during Idol. I had a 10 year old, upon seeing my Cingular...err AT&T phone, blurt out, "Cingular is now the new AT&T!" Gotta admit, they've done a good job of it. It’s because they’re doing it during Idol. I had a 10 year old, upon seeing my Cingular…err AT&T phone, blurt out, “Cingular is now the new AT&T!”

Gotta admit, they’ve done a good job of it.

]]> By: Matt Sokoloff http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292278 Matt Sokoloff Sun, 29 Apr 2007 14:37:03 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292278 Wait, he's a jack???? And when will my world be delivered? Wait, he’s a jack???? And when will my world be delivered?

]]> By: Zack http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292268 Zack Sun, 29 Apr 2007 14:14:47 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-292268 I bet this will continue until the release of the iPhone. The iPhone got a lot of exposure attached to the name Cingular. I bet this will continue until the release of the iPhone. The iPhone got a lot of exposure attached to the name Cingular.

]]> By: Joe http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-291961 Joe Sun, 29 Apr 2007 04:39:59 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2007/04/28/rant-cingular-is-now-the-new-att-i-get-it/#comment-291961 Ironically, we're still running sponsor billboards for Cingular because no one in sales will verify that we're supposed to change the logo. Ironically, we’re still running sponsor billboards for Cingular because no one in sales will verify that we’re supposed to change the logo.

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