Colbert "clarifies" Cingular name change

It appears that Cingular will actually be rebranded under the AT&T name early this year. Was this clear to everyone who watched Stan Sigman speak during the Macworld keynote? Even after I watched his six-minute speech on stage I wasn't sure if Cingular was going to change its name to AT&T or not. I remember Mr. Sigman saying the deal with Apple "...lets Cingular be Cingular." (At least until they change their name to AT&T?). It really does not matter I suppose; there is no branding on the iPhone itself from Cingular (I mean AT&T...I think). Perhaps Cingular should have asked Stephen Colbert to come on stage and explain the Cingular AT&T deal. Stephen Colbert, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, did in 30 seconds what the Cingular CEO couldn't do in six minutes: make a clear, memorable point. (Watch Colbert video on YouTube). Yes, it's a satirical point, but a memorable point nonetheless.

Colbert could've made his point sans the use of any graphics, but this is a pretty good example of how graphics can enhance one's message. "The point" in this case was a gag, and of course the crude, old PowerPoint-like graphics fit the sardonic commentary well.

   
Above left: Actual pic from Macworld keynote. Above right: How it may have looked if the Colbert graphics team worked on Mr. Sigman's slides.

This is not related to presentation, but below Colbert gives two "wags of the finger" to Apple and iPhone related to simplicity, complexity, and convergence. Well...sort of, but it's good for a laugh anyway.

Links
• Steve Jobs talks about iPhone on ABC's Nightline (video)
• CBS News on iPhone (video)
• Conan on iPhone (satirical video)
• Craig Ferguson comments on iPhone, Zune ("comedy" video)
• SNL "News" piece on iPhone (satirical video)
• Mad TV on Steve Jobs/iPhone ("comedy" video)
• Amateur satire piece on industry response to iPhone (video)
• "Cingular Brand Transition to Begin Soon" (AT&T website)
• Engadget article on Cingular rebranding

Comments

[abc]

Don't forget the MADTV Steve Jobs parody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p01RjigiYF0

[John Windsor]

Those are GOOD! Thanks for putting that collection together.

[SIL]

Thanks! This post and the Colbert clips just totally made my day. And no, Sigman's presentation at MacWorld made no sense...it was excrutiating to watch and a huge buzz-kill. You know Jobs was fishing around back stage for the giant hook!

[Allan White]

Just recovering from the shock of seeing the double-finger wag...

"I am flaccid with rage!" - Colbert

[Arno]

Where a bad presentation at macworld can lead too :-)

Arno

[Niko Neugebauer]

I liked the idea of using graphics, since it was a visual presentation of the at&t coporate structure, which is a big mess, no doubt about it. =)