This 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.