AT&T: Verizon ads are 'blatantly false'
AT&T wants to set the record straight about its 3G wireless coverage.
The company has placed a statement on its Web site defending itself against critical advertisements Verizon Wireless has been running that highlight areas of the country where AT&T lacks 3G coverage.
"We typically don't respond to competitors' advertising," AT&T said in its statement. "However, some recent ads from Verizon are so blatantly false and misleading that we want to set the record straight about AT&T's wireless-data coverage."
Verizon's initial advertisement, which began airing on TV a couple of weeks ago, mocks Apple's "there's an app for that" slogan. Instead, Verizon's advertisement says "there's a map for that."
The ad campaign shows two maps with red-and-white splotches. The white area indicates no 3G coverage, and the red indicates areas where 3G service is available. In the ad, Verizon shows an AT&T map that has lots of white spaces, whereas the Verizon map is almost covered in red.
AT&T has filed a lawsuit claiming that the ad is misleading because it implies that AT&T customers can't use their phones in areas where the carrier does not offer 3G wireless coverage.
Verizon has modified its ad slightly to indicate that the map applies only to 3G coverage and not regular 2.5G service, which is adequate for making voice calls and connecting to the wireless Internet at slower speeds.
But AT&T is still not happy with the adjustment, and the company wants Verizon to stop running the ads or to alter them further.
What's more, AT&T has added a complaint about a newer Verizon commercial, which characterizes the iPhone as a new arrival to the Isles of Misfit Toys, to the lawsuit. The Isles of Misfit Toys refers to an island where broken toys and misfits would go in the popular Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Christmas special.
In the ad, a toy elephant asks the iPhone what it's doing with the misfits, since it has so many cool apps. The iPhone doesn't really answer, instead flashing the AT&T map, which indicates the spotty 3G coverage. All the toys seem to understand.
AT&T hasn't launched ads of its own to combat the Verizon commercials. But the company's statement on its Web site is its attempt to refute many of Verizon's claims. For example, AT&T points out that its data coverage reaches 303 million people, or 97 percent of the U.S. population, using a mix of wireless technologies. Of course, AT&T admits that not all of these customers are able to access the faster 3G network; only 75 percent of the U.S. population can get access to AT&T's 3G wireless network.
AT&T also emphasizes in its statement that it has twice as many smartphone customers as Verizon. And it says it offers the most popular smarpthone in the industry, the Apple iPhone. AT&T says it offers more mobile applications than its competitors. And finally, it points out that it has the fastest 3G wireless network in the nation, a claim some customers who use the service may question.
There's no question that Verizon's ads are hard-hitting. But it's difficult to say whether they have affected consumers' purchase decisions. Anecdotally, it looks like the ads might have helped Verizon win a few customers. One Motorola Droid customer I interviewed at a Verizon store in New York this week said he decided not to buy the iPhone because of the Verizon ads he saw on TV.
"I was considering the iPhone," said Henry Goodison, of the Bronx borough. "But I saw a commercial about AT&T's 3G coverage. It said, 'Here is AT&T's 3G coverage, and here is ours.' And I thought it would be better to have Verizon, if I travel to another state, where AT&T doesn't have 3G coverage."
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie. 
Either way - AT&T ought to stop being so lazy and expand their coverage area.
And Apple ought to drop AT&T - its hurting their image.
Even without Verizon's ad.
"It's not fair, they're saying bad true things about us! WAAAAAH!"
"I love how Apple runs all kinds of ads bashing Microsoft but when Verizon takes them on they go running to their mommy. Grow up Apple and fix your crap network."
While I use an iPhone and am very happy with it, I'll be the first to admit it's not perfect and there is room for improvement. And, I know there are plenty of people out there who don't like Apple and will jump on any chance they get to bash the company. But your comment is just plain stupid. First of all, Verizon didn't take on Apple; they took on AT&T and their 3G coverage. Then you tell Apple to grow up and fix their crap network. What?! You do know that Apple builds the PHONE right, not the NETWORK?
I think you're the one who needs to grow up and think about your comments for just a few seconds before posting.
*SIGH*
Apple, Network .... Apple fix "their" network?
What's wrong with some of you people? Do ANY of your brain cells actually work?
That map omits the slower parts of AT&T's 3G network, the part that provides service using the EDGE protocol. This part of the AT&T network is slower than Verizon's 3G service. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDGE
AT&T's overall 3G coverage, which is visible at http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/#?type=data , is reasonably similar to Verizon's.
. png
Mobile tv coverage is a carriers true 3G coverage all the other crap Verizon claims is their 3G coverage, is Roaming 3G.
Verizon has yet to see Data saturation on their network.
On my iPhone 3G I can switch between 3G, and EDGE(2.5G), and when there is Data saturation all I do is switch to EDGE and it can be faster than the saturated 3G.
Mobile tv coverage is a carriers true 3G coverage all the other crap Verizon claims is their 3G coverage, is Roaming 3G.
Verizon has yet to see Data saturation on their network.
On my iPhone 3G I can switch between 3G, and EDGE(2.5G), and when there is Data saturation all I do is switch to EDGE and it can be faster than the saturated 3G.
At&t 3G Map
http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/#?type=mobiletv
Verizon 3G Map (Make sure its on Mobile TV)
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/CoverageLocatorController?requesttype=NEWREQUEST&coveragetype=broadband
also my EDGE network is faster than my girlfriends EVDO network
At&t's Rebuttal
http://www.att.com/gen/landing-pages?pid=6080
In fact, Verizon could twist the knife if they could somehow compile iPhone user gripes about poor service on the over crowded 3G network (ala the many stories on Cnet).
The false claims come in the play with the initial ads that did not specify it was a 3G network map but implied it was the coverage map.
Personally I do not have problems with the AT&T network. Other than an evening when they were activly working on the local tower, I never get a droped call, data always works (AT&T).
What are you, on AOL? Posting 'me-too' is very 1998.
If Verizon is misrepresenting AT&T's 3G coverage in Michigan, how do we know they are properly representing the rest of AT&T's 3G coverage correctly?
I live in Jackson, MI (south of Lansing). There is no 3G here but the EDGE network suits my needs while I am out and about. I think this is the point AT&T is trying to make. Yeah our 3G coverage isn't everywhere but its not like your phone is a brick in all the blank areas of the map that Verizon is showing.
"What are you, on AOL? Posting 'me-too' is very 1998. "
Today people just post " +1 "
"Blatantly false" = completely true
"Misleading" = exceptional veracity
Definition for Blatantly
http://www.aolsvc.merriam-webster.aol.com/dictionary/blatantly
Definition for Misleading
http://www.aolsvc.merriam-webster.aol.com/dictionary/Misleading
This just shows how stupid AT&T is nobody thinks this shows non connectivity it just shows how many places do not have fast coverage, the whole purpose of haveing a nice phone. EDGE or 2G connectivity is about 3 times slower or more.
LATER AT&T; I like so many of my freinds are all gone as soon as the iPhone is with any other carrier!
The verizon map shows coverage for vice and messaging, while the map for att shows just the coverage for mobile tv. If you were to actually compare maps you would see that verizon's coverage for what they term broad band is just about the same as what att has.
I have no preferences about one cell provider over the other, the thing I have against verizon is from dealing with them back east, no pleasant stories about their customer service, just disgust.
Verizon has iPhone envy bad
It's okay for AT&T to say that they offer 3G in metropolitan areas and that the coverage services all but about 78 million people, but what about quality of service for those they serve and what about travel?
When I go practically anywhere, Sprint has 3G coverage and that includes Sprint TV, as well as the rest of their services. AT&T offers very little unless you're right where they hope you'll be.
Also people that scream Verizon has great customer service are probably the ones that have gotten things out of Verizon (like credits towards their bills) because what they don't know is Verizon will roll over for most customers in order to keep their SLA percentages high. Yes Verizon does outsource their incoming customer service calls to third party companies. Call in and watch them squirm when you state you will get a lawyer or will change carriers.
And the reason these customers get credits? It is mainly because the supervisors in the call centers want nothing to do with speaking to an angry customer. So the reps put in the credits and then get hit hard come pay day once they pass the $50 minimum credit limit each rep has per month. Oh and if the rep sees through the customers bs, the customer then can give that rep a poor survey score also hurting their call center numbers and finally their end of the week paycheck. Gotta love how big business runs....the little guys get run over while the managers and supervisors point fingers..*roll eyes*
Btw, I had as many dropped called in 4 days with Verizon as I did with AT&T for 8 months.
A lawsuit? The only lawsuit that will have any meaning will be the one where current and former AT&T customers launch a class action suit against AT&T for false advertising about their 3G network.
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/11/10/att-defends-its-data-network-from-verizon-ad-attacks/
I am off to get some dinner.
That's not hyperbole, that is blunt fact according to the various organizations that keep track of that stuff.
I think what AT&T is really doing is deploying only to certain strategic spots where they absolutely have to and even then, due to their slow deployment, it seems they are doing so begrudgingly if just to hoard their cash before the iPhone jumps to a competitor's network.
What this ad may not take into account is any shared TMobile 3G network sharing. TMobile and AT&T effectively share networks due to the fact that both have subpar coverage within the US. On a positive note, on 3G GSM phones, you can use data and voice at the same time, something that is not possible on CDMA phones (Sprint and Verizon).
@Dudley.....while some carrier may roam, AT&T and TMobile do NOT share networks. ATT does need to improve the backhaul, which became overloaded because of increased data usage - yes, more Smartphone users do choose ATT. ATT also has more cell site than any other carrier (check that fact).
The problem with the ad is that Verizon misrepresents their 3G coverage - there is no distinction between their 2G 1XRTT network and their 3G EVDO network (which, as stated, only allows a user to talk or surf but not at the same time).
AT&T: "Done. Just like you suggested, we 'fixed' our network. Man, we should have listened to you long ago. Who knew it would be that easy."
Verizon Customers: "Yeah, but you should have been able to do it overnight. It's not like fixing your coverage would be a big undertaking. Come on, get it together."
AT&T: "Yeah, you're right Verizon users. We should have been able to upgrade everything overnight. What were we thinking?"
AT&T has no coverage at my home, even though we are supposedly in their 'best' area of coverage.... it's gotten so bad in fact that my parents have to WALK 300 FEET UP OUR STREET in order to get any coverage. And what does AT&T tell us about that? "We are having problems with an antenna in your area!" BULLCRAP! I could understand having those problems for a week, at most.... not for 3 years almost.
As I mentioned in further down the page, I was very unstatisifed with my AT&T coverage when I moved down to Florida. I am happy to say that they fixed the service a few months back by adding 3G and improving reception. Knowing how I felt before the upgrade, I can't blame you for being mad. But the truth is that all of the carriers have problems. The key is to finding the one that best suits you.
It's funny that AT&T sues Verizon. They'll just put themselves in the news with most people completely agreeing with Verizon. Good. Perhaps they'll find out just how bad they really suck. I remember when my boss visited me from Europe. His cell phone worked perfectly in our building. I couldn't get a *single* bar.
I despise Verizon (they are the ILEC so I have had to deal with their BS for the past 20 years too), but AT&T is at the top of my list of communications companies that suck suck suck and suck some more.
"Incorrect. Verizon has two speeds. Their Verizon map shows the EV-DO Rev. A areas (3G speed) plus the areas without EV-DO Rev. A"
again "EV-DO Rev. A areas (3G speed) plus the areas without EV-DO Rev. A"<- non EV-DO = non 3G
Is AT&T better? perhaps, perhaps not, However, I have no problems receiving a signal, making or receiving calls in my building where I work with my iPhone. Nor at home or when I travel. There are over 1600 iPhone users at work. I am currently enrolled in a test program within our company with regards to Verizon and their service using the Blackberry Storm and Storm 2, and 3G Curve as well as the Blackberry Bold.
The company is looking to switch carriers from AT&T to Verizon. I have been using Verizon for over 6 months continuously everyday. Every call work related and personal. Verizon service stinks and not as good. I am glad our company decided to stay with AT&T. The amount of dropped calls was driving me insane with Verizon. I can't even drive over to the coast without losing a signal, this is the SF Bay Area this should not be happening. Where is that Verizon dude and his backup, I think their AWOL. LOL
After arriving from a 5 hour flight in Houston, I power on the all the cell phones I am using and testing and I receive no signal with Verizon or it took over 5 minutes to make a call. AT&T iPhone 3G and 3GS no problems at all. Same thing happened in Las Vegas last year.
A great match would be if T-Mobile purchased Sprint and combined them then Apple went with T-Mobile instead of VZ. That would be great!
To all the Verizon pumpers out there, good luck with your Droid and over inflated service, I'll stick with the lesser of two evil's. I know I have been testing VZ for over 6 months , no thanks...
- by billd888 November 13, 2009 4:41 PM PST
- I have known many people who have used AT&T for years, most that I know do not really like it, but they live in areas where AT&T's coverage is no worse than anyone else's. Prior to AT&T's acquisition of Cingular the FCC reported that they had more complaints of dropped calls from AT&T subscribers than from any other network. Adding Cingular could not have helped them because Cingular phones from different parts of the country couldn't even roam without issues. I had a guy from Ohio travel to California and his Cingular phone was unusable here, is an area where Cingular was the dominant carrier.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 1 of 4 pages (144 Comments)