AT&T says they "miss me" - where'd I go?

I moved my internet connectivity to AT&T in 2005 (then it was SBC) when an Earthlink support person recommended I disable my anti-virus software to help Earthlink run more efficiently.

The next day, I called Comcast and SBC.

Because Comcast bewildered me, and SBC made it easy, I switched my account to them and have stayed ever since.

In the past few months, however, I've received two AT&T emails with the subject line: "Amy, we've missed you!"

It's very frustrating - and a little scary - to think my internet provider doesn't know I'm a customer.

Maybe that's why I can't get answers to my questions; why I can't get the "highest level" speed for which I'm paying; why the anti-virus protection AT&T offers keeps clogging my computer. Are there special prices, products and services I could get if AT&T recognized me as a customer? If they have a system wide problem will I not be notified?

Should I check into Comcast again (oh, great, the company that can't even live up to a promise with its tv service).

It's not the worst marketing I've even seen, but it is pretty bad. For wasting my time, for communicating poorly, and for giving me reason to reconsider my relationship with them, I say to AT&T, "Get real."

Beyond advertising: choosing a strategic path to the digital consumer

IBM has released a new report - it's a free download, titled Beyond advertising: choosing a strategic path to the digital consumer.

Aimed at media and entertainment company, the report is filled with great information for everyone interested in the changing consumer.

From the Abstract, here are some of the insights presented. The Abstract itself (and the report) go into all of these in greater detail.

Four primary trends blur the boundaries between traditional brand advertising and direct marketing:

• Consumer adoption of new distribution formats –
• A shift in advertiser spend –
  
• Digital migration of platforms –
  
• Emergence of new capabilities –

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New capabilities across four areas hold paramount importance as traditional advertising gives way to consumer centricity: creative, insights, collaboration and workflow.

• Creative –
  
• Insights –
  
• Collaboration –
• Workflow –