Cingular to Take Over AT&T Wireless Name

Nov. 13–Starting Monday, the Twin Cities can say good-bye to AT&T Wireless and hello to Cingular Wireless. The carrier is new to Minnesota and bought out AT&T Wireless last month for $41 billion.

Atlanta-based Cingular, created by regional telephone giants SBC Communications of San Antonio and BellSouth of Atlanta, is going to finish taking down the AT&T Wireless signs from their stores Monday and put up Cingular’s name, kicking off an advertising blitz, spokesman Chris Comes said.

Cingular’s acquisition of AT&T Wireless created the nation’s biggest cell phone company with 46 million customers, leapfrogging Cingular ahead of Verizon Communications, which has 42.1 million customers.

Old AT&T Wireless customers will continue to see the names of both companies on their bills for the next few months but eventually, they will become Cingular customers, Comes said.

The AT&T Wireless name may not be dead just yet. AT&T reportedly is planning on starting its own wireless service to sell along with its long distance, Internet and business services.

Cingular has a contract with AT&T to keep the AT&T Wireless name for six months after the acquisition before turning it back to Ma Bell, Comes said.

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