Cingular reaffirms commitment
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from November 2004.
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On 26 October Cingular completed its previously announced merger with AT&T Wireless Services Inc., creating the biggest wireless carrier and the largest digital voice and data network in North America, states a press release. With more than 46 million customers, the new Cingular will offer consumers maximum convenience and flexibility, improved reliability, enhanced call quality, and the widest array of new and advanced services.
Cingular intends to bring these benefits to its customers in the Caribbean in addition to moving forward with expansion plans begun by AT&T Wireless. Specifically: As a result of the merger, Cingular now serves former AT&T Wireless customers in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The company will continue to bring the latest wireless advances to these markets.
Cingular anticipates that in 2005 it will launch service in Curacao, St. Kitts & Nevis, Anguilla, Jamaica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, and St. Barth's. The company aims to acquire licenses to serve consumers in other Caribbean markets, such as the Turks & Caicos Islands as well as Trinidad and Tobago.
"The best is yet to come for wireless customers in the Caribbean. We are committed to giving consumers the coverage, the phones, the capabilities, and the call clarity they deserve," said Jordan Roderick, Executive Vice President of Cingular's International unit. "We are also committed to expanding the availability of our high-speed Third Generation services to the region's ever-growing community of mobile data users."
Mr. Roderick noted that Cingular was originally formed through the merger of major US wireless providers, so the company is experienced at successfully combining companies and operations. He said Cingular will use its employees' experience and expertise to bring the full benefit of the newly combined company to its customers in the Caribbean.
Like the former AT&T Wireless, Cingular uses GSM/GPRS technology - the world standard for wireless communications. As a result, customers of the new Cingular will be able to use their wireless phones in more countries than ever before. Indeed, the company offers the largest international coverage of any carrier that serves the Caribbean. In addition, an increasing number of visitors to the Caribbean will be able to roam on Cingular's wireless networks with their own wireless phones.
Customers of the former AT&T Wireless will continue to enjoy the benefits of their current phones, rate plans, and features, without any service interruption. In addition, Cingular will soon start communicating with customers through advertising and direct communications channels.
"We are working to make this transition as seamless as possible for customers of AT&T Wireless," said Stephanie Bariault, Vice President and General Manager for Cingular's Caribbean region. "They can continue using their existing phones and rate plans and it's only going to get better from here. We will continue to add more capabilities and services that our customers want."
