--- title: Eerily accurate predictions from AT&T 1993 television advertising image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601129679-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20133f3702977970b-120wi.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2010/08/att-1993-television-advertising-accurately-predicted-today.html#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # Eerily accurate predictions from AT&T 1993 television advertising August 31st, 2010 1 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) ![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601129679-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20133f3702977970b-120wi.jpg?width=108&height=50&name=6a00d83451f23a69e20133f3702977970b-120wi.jpg) [![Att](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601129679-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20133f3702977970b-120wi.jpg "Att")](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20133f3702977970b-pi) Take a look at this interesting montage of television advertising from [AT&T](http://www.att.com/) from nearly 20 years ago. The "You Will" series looked at what you will be able to do in the future. It's amazing how many of the predictions the ads got right – there’s an iPad like device, a GPS navigation system, the ability to purchase concert tickets online, virtual meeting software, and on-demand video at home. There are several things that were spectacularly inaccurate however such as the continued use of a phone booth and fax. (When was the last time you even saw a phone booth?) But it's remarkable how much was absolutely right. [Direct link to the video on YouTube.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZb0avfQme8) The payoff line in each ad is: *"And the company that will bring it to you? AT&T."* Interesting how this is both right and wrong. While I do use AT&T wireless services because I have an iPhone, I don’t really think of AT&T as the company that brings me all this great technology. Rather, I think of Apple as the primary driver of the futuristic technologies that are most important to me today. AT&T's role has become that of a commodity (in my mind at least) rather than an innovator. [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Advertising ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/advertising) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/breaking%20news.jpg?width=1536&height=1024&name=breaking%20news.jpg) ### Be Very Careful When Newsjacking Political Stories March 3rd, 2026|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/be-very-careful-when-newsjacking-political-stories) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Agentic%20AI%20spam.jpg?width=1004&height=669&name=Agentic%20AI%20spam.jpg) ### Hyper-Personalized Agentic AI Sp*m Email at Scale Is Here November 4th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/hyper-personalized-agentic-ai-spam-email-at-scale-is-here) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-10-29%20at%2010.27.19%20AM.png?width=835&height=466&name=Screenshot%202025-10-29%20at%2010.27.19%20AM.png) ### Don’t Fly Wizzness Class Video from Dave Carroll October 29th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/dont-fly-wizzness-class-video-from-dave-carroll) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Atlas%20OpenAI.jpg?width=1846&height=1022&name=Atlas%20OpenAI.jpg) ### The New OpenAI ChatGPT Atlas Browser Further Disrupts SEO October 23rd, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-new-openai-chatgpt-atlas-browser-further-disrupts-seo) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Cracker%20Barrel.jpg?width=990&height=541&name=Cracker%20Barrel.jpg) ### Once You Put Your Product or Service into the World, it Belongs to your Fans August 28th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/once-you-put-your-product-or-service-into-the-world-it-belongs-to-your-fans) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/story%20time%20shutterstock_2078659261.jpg?width=1500&height=999&name=story%20time%20shutterstock_2078659261.jpg) ### The Story Customers Tell Themselves May 6th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-story-customers-tell-themselves) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Trader%20Joes%20mini%20tote.jpg?width=1500&height=1125&name=Trader%20Joes%20mini%20tote.jpg) ### Trader Joe’s Mini Tote Bag Drop Drives Passionate Fandom April 16th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/trader-joes-mini-tote-bag-drop-drives-passionate-fandom) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/brand_bier_adcn2015_support_04.png?width=1200&height=630&name=brand_bier_adcn2015_support_04.png) ### The Branding of Brand Brand Beer March 12th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-branding-of-brand-brand-beer) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Carnation%20Ice%20Cream%20sign.jpg?width=1440&height=1080&name=Carnation%20Ice%20Cream%20sign.jpg) ### Your Organization’s History As Content Marketing February 10th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/your-organizations-history-as-content-marketing) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2077138888.jpg?width=1500&height=1000&name=shutterstock_2077138888.jpg) ### What Makes a Great Marketer? 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