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Didnt See This Coming

BluetoOrange22

Nov 21, 2005, 10:59 AM
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/busines ... »

This is gonna be very strange. You almost wonder if this is what theyve been planning all along, considering SBC IMMEDIATELY adopted the AT&T name internally and announced this decision.

How do you see the customers taking this one now?
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 11:03 AM
As long as it is followed by a MAJOR marketing initiative, it will be great for business.
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BluetoOrange22

Nov 21, 2005, 11:08 AM
But with AT&T Wireless' reputation so ruined by a steady chain of events the years before the acquisition, do you think they can regain the trust from the customers?
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 11:35 AM
The trust never left in areas that were only blue. In my area, everyone I talk to says they liked their service better when it was AT&T. These people are considering leaving for VZW, but they would stay if it was AT&T again. This will be a good move.
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ralph_on_me

Nov 21, 2005, 11:55 AM
I agree. People in my area whine about the Cingular name and want the old ATT name.

I don't think they planned on doing this since the beginning because of all the money they spend on promoting the Cingular name after the merger.

If this does happen (it was an SBC CEO who said it, not a Cingular one), I'm just hoping they'll pay for our rebranding of POP in the stores.
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 12:00 PM
ralph_on_me said:
I agree. People in my area whine about the Cingular name and want the old ATT name.

I don't think they planned on doing this since the beginning because of all the money they spend on promoting the Cingular name after the merger.

If this does happen (it was an SBC CEO who said it, not a Cingular one), I'm just hoping they'll pay for our rebranding of POP in the stores.


I was under the impression that the Cingular CEO was simply a puppet when it came to something that the BLS CEO or SBC CEO said. Is that incorrect?

And it would be nice if they rebranded your stores at no charge to you. I hope they do.
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ralph_on_me

Nov 21, 2005, 12:19 PM
They will "likely" increase our remodelling expenses for that year to include those changes and we foot the bill out of pocket.

The Cingy CEO could be a puppet, but SBC only holds 60% of his strings. We just have to watch and wait.
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dca

Nov 21, 2005, 12:23 PM
...or go on ebay and see if anyone is selling the old AT&T blue logos and signage from all the stores that were closed/re-branded???

I don't see the CEO as a puppet. With landline/long distance loosing monies faster than GW's approval rating they need a sharp cat in their executive office.

It kind of goes against the spinning off wireless (like AT&T did in the nineties) dealie that was vogue at the time. However, I don't think they'll ever re-combine. It's all a plot for each individual corp (BLS, SBC, etc) to reap as much as they can from a globally recognized name.
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 1:48 PM
dca said:
...or go on ebay and see if anyone is selling the old AT&T blue logos and signage from all the stores that were closed/re-branded???


That would work, except they "re-jiggered" the logo.
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dca

Nov 21, 2005, 1:59 PM
LOL! I love that! I gotta' find a way to incorporate that into everything.
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sangyup81

Nov 21, 2005, 6:17 PM
yeah and it's at&t now not AT&T
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littlefuzzbear

Nov 21, 2005, 8:01 PM
sangyup81 said:
yeah and it's at&t now not AT&T


Yeah, supposedly using lower case is more "au courrant."
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texaswireless

Nov 21, 2005, 1:28 PM
In the Generation II stores we don't have many items that aren't regularly replaced anyways. I have only two signs that say Cingular that are permanent, the outside and the back wall. Everything else is monthly or quarterly merchandising which is replaced anyways.
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 1:34 PM
You and C may have it somewhat easy with the name change, but our stores will not. They just invested some money on a new outdoor sign for my store. Also one for the inside. They just did a whole remodel on another store. I hope that they will not be out loads of money. We also just placed an order for more shirts, cards and things like that. I know that they are not that expensive, but it adds up with multiple stores.

I hope that this "name change" is successful in bringing in more customers and money. If not, EVERYONE will be out alot more money than what we were all out with the merger alone.

I just don't know what to think of this to be honest.
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ralph_on_me

Nov 21, 2005, 1:44 PM
Our store just has the back wall and a front awning as well. The backwall is just wooden letters and easialy replaced. The awning we JUST had replaced this year, so that sucks... I'm just hoping that on top of our normal remodelling expense budget, they throw in a little more for the new signs.

As for my shirts... even though I can't wear them to work, I'm looking forward to wearing them out on the town as vintage clothing.
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 1:50 PM
Only you would. Not me man. I don't go into public with my work shirt on. It just asks for people to ask you hella amounts of questions.
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ralph_on_me

Nov 21, 2005, 1:57 PM
If Cingular is long gone, it wont matter.

"Do you work for Cingular?"

"Nope, I don't!"
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 2:00 PM
Lol. I wasn't looking that far ahead into the future. It would be like someone seeing someone with an ATTWS shirt on and a customer sees it, they are going to bug them, even though they are no longer.
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doczaius

Nov 21, 2005, 2:27 PM
lol.
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 1:57 PM
tadams said:
You and C may have it somewhat easy with the name change, but our stores will not. They just invested some money on a new outdoor sign for my store. Also one for the inside. They just did a whole remodel on another store. I hope that they will not be out loads of money. We also just placed an order for more shirts, cards and things like that. I know that they are not that expensive, but it adds up with multiple stores.

I hope that this "name change" is successful in bringing in more customers and money. If not, EVERYONE will be out alot more money than what we were all out with the merger alone.

I just don't know what to think of this to be honest.


I honestly feel that this wi...
(continues)
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 2:04 PM
Well as of right now, its 50/50. They also thought that the merger was going to be a great thing. And look at the numbers... If the company was doing some restructuring with this name change, I could see how it would help. The company is not changing, the name is. People are only dumb when they want to be. Customers will know that the name changing isn't going to change a thing.
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 2:09 PM
tadams said:
Well as of right now, its 50/50. They also thought that the merger was going to be a great thing. And look at the numbers... If the company was doing some restructuring with this name change, I could see how it would help. The company is not changing, the name is. People are only dumb when they want to be. Customers will know that the name changing isn't going to change a thing.


But there is major improvements going on in customer service. I have experienced that over the last few days. I have had to call them 4 times, and have had wonderful experiences every time. The changes are becoming evident, and this will help, in my humble opinion.
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 3:23 PM
THOSE are the things that make a difference. A name change I dont see making that drastic of a change.
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 3:38 PM
You are correct. Maybe I mis-stated what I was actually trying to say. My feeling is that this name change, coupled with the internal changes that are going on, are going to mean great things for Cingular. The key is both things together.
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 3:43 PM
I hope so man! 🙂
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ralph_on_me

Nov 21, 2005, 3:46 PM
Changes are good, but there's no name change.
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colione112

Nov 21, 2005, 10:34 PM
there will be a name change, probably early next year. And I don't think it will improve anyone's impression, it will however make marketing alot easier... just look at verizon. When you see a verizon commercial, you think of the land and wireless divisions, even if the commercial is for landlines...
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TenMidgits

Nov 21, 2005, 2:36 PM
tadams said:
Well as of right now, its 50/50. They also thought that the merger was going to be a great thing. And look at the numbers... If the company was doing some restructuring with this name change, I could see how it would help. The company is not changing, the name is. People are only dumb when they want to be. Customers will know that the name changing isn't going to change a thing.


you need to apply at Verizon. you have good business sense and know thy customer.
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 3:41 PM
If I wanted to work there I would. I really appreciate you telling me where I am suited to work.

JUST because Cingular has some flaws that does not mean that Verizon should be #1. Please just go away. I think that I am losing brain cells every time that I read your posts.
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littlefuzzbear

Nov 21, 2005, 8:07 PM
SForsyth01 said:
I honestly feel that this will be a very good thing, provided it is followed by a guerella marketing campaign.


A gorilla marketing campaign would be a lot more fun 🙂
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RUFF1415

Nov 21, 2005, 6:00 PM
I don't. I loved AT&T as AT&T, and I love AT&T as Cingular. Service hasn't changed, just the name. I just don't get people...
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TenMidgits

Nov 21, 2005, 1:31 PM
BluetoOrange22 said:
But with AT&T Wireless' reputation so ruined by a steady chain of events the years before the acquisition, do you think they can regain the trust from the customers?


Yes that was BEFORE ATT customer got a taste of Cingular. ATT was a great carrier. They gave away minutes, had retro phone plan changes, did not extend your contract on a whim, Most ATT customers including myself were very happy with ATTWirelss. Unfortunately Cingular will try to capitalize on that Good will but people are not as stupid as they think. They trashed the ATT name selling Cingular before and AFTER the buyout now they want to claim a big:

Never mind! Desperation is not pretty,
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 1:46 PM
I know on pleanty of customers who were not happy about switching to Cingular, but have come in and said that they are so glad that they did.

Im not questioning that there are unhappy customers out there, but there always will be. As for the extending the contract on a whim, how does Cingular do that??? Gimme proof man.
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 1:55 PM
tadams said:
I know on pleanty of customers who were not happy about switching to Cingular, but have come in and said that they are so glad that they did.

Im not questioning that there are unhappy customers out there, but there always will be. As for the extending the contract on a whim, how does Cingular do that??? Gimme proof man.


They don't extend the contract on a whim. TenMidgits has gone to Verizon and must be having problems with this because Verizon extends your contract every time you sneeze.

But to his point, Cingular will extend your contract if you make a change in the last year of your contract (I think it's a year, but it could be 6 months, I'm not 100% sure) while AT&T would let y...
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 2:02 PM
What Ten said was "on a whim". Verizon and Sprint do it, but the contract extention on a rate plan change is the only way for the most part other than an upgrade. My point was that it happens with other companies ALOT more frequently than it does with Cingular.
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 3:51 PM
tadams said:
What Ten said was "on a whim". Verizon and Sprint do it, but the contract extention on a rate plan change is the only way for the most part other than an upgrade. My point was that it happens with other companies ALOT more frequently than it does with Cingular.


Correct, as usual, my dear. 😉
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TenMidgits

Nov 21, 2005, 2:34 PM
tadams said:
I know on pleanty of customers who were not happy about switching to Cingular, but have come in and said that they are so glad that they did.

Im not questioning that there are unhappy customers out there, but there always will be. As for the extending the contract on a whim, how does Cingular do that??? Gimme proof man.


There are MANY MANY MANY mre who have left. I'd say 4-1 easily. Your last quarter's numbers prov that. So if you can live with the few who actually believe Cingular is better, Why are they now talking of name changes.

Cingular is a desperate company getting hammered by now even T-Mobile. It's not pretty.

ATT will not change anything. A polished turd is still a Turd...
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 3:38 PM
That is kinda my point. We will still be the same company. Just because you change a name that doensn't change a company. You are totally correct in that. As for the rest of you OPINION, I would disagree.
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SForsyth01

Nov 21, 2005, 3:57 PM
TenMidgits said:
tadams said:
I know on pleanty of customers who were not happy about switching to Cingular, but have come in and said that they are so glad that they did.

Im not questioning that there are unhappy customers out there, but there always will be. As for the extending the contract on a whim, how does Cingular do that??? Gimme proof man.


There are MANY MANY MANY mre who have left. I'd say 4-1 easily. Your last quarter's numbers prov that. So if you can live with the few who actually believe Cingular is better, Why are they now talking of name changes.

Cingular is a desperate company getting hammered by now even T-Mobile. It's not pretty.

ATT will not change anyt
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bsmithFX4

Nov 21, 2005, 12:24 PM
I am a Cingular customer, and I don't like this idea. I originally had LA Cellular. They got bought out by AT&T Wireless. Then I switched to Cingular about 4 years ago. And now I'm going to be going back to AT&T Wireless? What a rediculous circle of events. I can see this really confusing the standard customer.

I have loved the Cingular coverage, phone choices, and the customer service. This name change just seems like a move backwards in my humble opinion.

Oh well. I just hope it works out well for us customers and you employees.
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dca

Nov 21, 2005, 12:45 PM
Then it's a dual-edged sword for everyone. You being a versed cellphone user and the not-so-up-on certain things user. They can side with the, "man, it wasn't this bad when it was AT&T" mantra. You can side with the Cingy's a great company, can't wait to see what they'll do now with the name-change, crowd.


I was never up on the name Cingular, anyways. It almost alienated the possibilities of getting any kind of foothold in corporate/enterprises accounts... "Because we concerned ourself with the individual" attack... Hmmm.
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guitarman21

Nov 21, 2005, 2:08 PM
I don't like the new logo released today. Go to att.com or sbc.com to see it.
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tadams

Nov 21, 2005, 4:24 PM
I don't either. Boring!
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lefteyeiu2006

Nov 21, 2005, 8:49 PM
I do like the logo. I was afraid they would totally do away with the globe icon, I am glad they did not. One note, though, they should have added more blue hue into it.
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