After bad PR AT& T Apologizes

AT&T has apologized for threatening an iPhone customer over two emails he sent to CEO Randall Stephenson. While perhaps lulled into thinking that just because the "other iPhone CEO" (Steve Jobs) is open to receiving direct emails, AT&T's Randall Stephenson would be the same, Giorgio Galante certainly didn't need to be threatened with a Cease & Desist order simply for two emails.

The two emails, though definitely to the point and threatening to leave AT&T for Sprint and the new EVO 4G phone, were certainly not enough to require a C&D. After all the bad publicity, however, Galante received an apology phone call from a Senior VP (and let's admit it; the story went national; if it had not, there would have been no apology).

Lori (IDed as the Senior VP) told Galante that Brent (who originally left the threatening voicemail) was " not having the best of days today” and asked if she could do anything to keep Galante. Alas, he's decided to move on (and AT&T's decision to drop unlimited data plans was another reason, by the way).

While accepting of the apology, after a little more thinking, Galante had some comments:

After reflecting on AT&T’s earlier apology, I can’t help but feel that they were forced into apologizing by all the media attention, and I really wish that Mr. Stephenson would have made the phone call. In my mind it reflects on how insulated he is from his customers. First, he delegates all of his emails to an executive relations team, then when they fail him, he delegates to his Sr. VP.

Galante also added that it seems the HTC EVO 4G is in short supply. That is no surprise, and opens up a great possibility for some positive Sprint PR. Hey, Dan Hesse (Sprint CEO), do you take emails?