AT&T branding gets kickstart in prep for iPhone launch
By Brian White 
posted May 21st 2007 10:17PM
posted May 21st 2007 10:17PM
Now we know why Cingular chose to merge with BellSouth last year -- it was because of the impending iPhone partnership! Seriously though, the largest wireless carrier in the US (now part of AT&T) is about to push its re-branding efforts into overdrive (the word "Cingular" will be banished from the landscape for good) in concert with the soon-to-arrive iPhone. No longer will customers see "Cingular - now part of the new AT&T" and such language on signage, kiosks or any other AT&T marketing material. AT&T has determined that knowledge of AT&T is "ahead of schedule" (whatever that means) and will accelerate the extinction of the Cingular brand as a result. Gone is the screen display of "Cingular" on the AT&T handsets in most markets. The last bastion of the old Cingular moniker will be the final transitional phrase "Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular," with the orange "jack" mark being phased out as much as possible. Look for there to be zero, zilch nada Cingular branding of any kind on the iPhone next month, not that it'll be a surprise or anything.
Stop spamming you asshole!
http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/specials/en/iPhone.jpg
I tried submitting this story to engadget like a month ago.
Josh, I agree. The iPhone's new at&t branding has been present on their site for at least a month - maybe two.
On a side topic, I have also tried to send things to Engadget. I don't know if many people have seen this - nor do I know if it's anything special. But at http://www.cingularresource.com/DVD.asp you can download a couple HUGE movie files which are meant for Cingular/at&t exhibitions and trade shows. There are some hints at new handsets and prices of items like the Samsung SYNC (which supposedly will be FREE w/contract). Again, I don't know if it's anything special... but someone could check it out.
"Now longer will customers see..."
Guys, NO is spelled like N-O...no W
*sigh*
I second the no 'w' in 'no' statement.
Anyway, this really isn't too unexpected, everyone knew it was just a matter of time before they would rebrand everything and kill off what remained of Cingular.
"Gone is the screen display of "Cingular" on the AT&T handsets.."
At least until AT&T decides to spin off its wireless service (again) in 3 years with the new ad campaign "Welcome to the new Cingular (formerly AT&T)"
Woudnt that be Welcome back to the new Cingular (formerly AT&T formerly Cingular)
I thought from the original announcement that the iphone wouldn't have any service provider branding on it as a part of the deal - pure apple goodness, no sliced up globe or human road kill logo - are we just referring to the service name in the upper left corner that reads you're on cingular's network being changed to read at&t?
I already miss "Cingular"
largest carrier in the US? Did I miss something here? When did att re-surpass Vzw?
The wireless phone service formerly known as Prince...
What i dont get is why dont they just change the damn name to att customer awareness bull people know when something changes it doesnt take no damn 6 months to notice that
@dcny: Exactly!!
Dear AT&T, we get it, OK? You can forevermore loose the Chingular (Mexicans will find that funny) moniker. After spending enough to fund social security for the next 10 years on your re-branding campaign, it has sunk in: You're AT&T now. Please, move on already - believe me when I say, we have!
Well, it still says Cingular on my phones (which, by the way, are running on the old AT&T Wireless, ironically enough)
Just this past Memorial Day, I went to my local Cingular store and it had on the inside, everything AT&T branded, even the shirts and name badges that the employees wore has AT&T on it and the shirts were blue. I got a Sony Ericsson Z300a for free and it still has Cingular branding but when I turn on my phone, it says "AT&T."