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AT&T Files Complaint Against Verizon Over 3G Coverage Map Commercials

bdkennedy1 said:
**** AT&T. As soon as Verizon gets the iPhone, I'm gone.
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What's that say about Steve Jobs decision to use AT&T's GSM technology as the way to go because it was more universal internationally?

If I were the ad agency for AT&T I would create a commercial touting Apple as a game changer company... first with the Macintosh circa 1984... then the iPod... then the iPhone and show the Apple clips of Steve Jobs touting GSM and why the iPhone is on the AT&T network and then AT&T shows a map of their GSM coverage and Verizon's "blank" USA map of no GSM coverage.

Because we all know CDMA is not GSM and we also know that Steve was rebuffed by Verizon with their superior network and Apple had to accept the lesser of the two... I mean can you imagine Steve, when introducing the iPhone in 2007 talk about wishing Verizon had been more receptive because their network is superior, even if it is CDMA and that the users of the iPhone would be so demanding for a phone that works (regarding 3G service, coverage, speeds, lack of dropped calls, call connectivity, etc.)... Oh :apple: :cool:
 
CQd44 said:
Phonecalls always take priority, at least on my g1 with t mobile. It kicks you out of any app you're in to answer the call. It also drops the data services (if you're downloading something or connected to an instant messaging client) while you're in the phonecall.
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That is T-Mobile. I read the technical explanation years ago and I can't find it again, but basically AT&T in order to save network resources turned off a feature that T-Mobile has on that enables phone calls to take priority when in EDGE.

If you are using the iPhone on AT&T's EDGE and the data connection is active, the phone calls will not go through and instead route straight to voicemail. I've personally tested this out.

If you have AT&T EDGE and you are pulling up a webpage when someone calls, or your email is syncing at the moment somebody calls, or you are streaming video/audio when someone calls you won't even know they called you unless they leave a voicemail. The phone will not ring.
 
archangel08 said:
the second i heard "there's a map for this" on tv, i got mad.
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And I laughed out loud the second time I heard it on the radio.

(The first time, I didn't at first catch the subtle phonetic difference between "an app" and "a map", and thought that it was an Apple commercial until it got confusing at the end. The second time I thought "pure genius".)

Funny that commercials get as many or more comments than technical/news items here....
 
I can see why ATT would be upset here but honestly I don't find the ad misleading. They clearly state "3G coverage" 4 times in the ad, and mention 3G phones at the end.

I like to think that a fair percentage of customers out there know the difference between 3G coverage and coverage. Anyone who doesn't probably isn't Verizon's target audience here, and wouldn't switch based on this ad.

May be ATT should do something about their over burdened network rather than sitting on their thumbs the past three years touting how many iPhones they sold the previous quarter.
 
AT&T has a valid cause of action and will prevail. It is mainly a PR lawsuit so it can say it won and publicly say its coverage is better than Verizon claims.

Verizon's coverage is better and besides that it is not over burdened by Apple devices like AT&T is. The solution is LTE.

Yes AT&T is in the pocket of NSA. When the nukes come you will be glad. In the mean time they can and do capture ALL data and decrypt all encrypted communications and file transfers within 24 hours. And store them.

BUT at least for now that information cannot be used for domestic criminal convictions of domestic citizens. If they (congress or the executive) change their minds and do so retroactively (violating an array of laws precedents and constitutional principals), it will be quite convenient indeed.

What constitution?

Rocketman
 
pounce said:
it's not apples fault.
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Yeah, just ignore that whole Apple choosing AT&T thing because Apple was unable to obtain a similar agreement with the superior Verizon carrier where they have a much, much better network according to those posting here in the first place. :eek:

Yeah, Apple and their iPhone were dragged, kicking and screaming, all the way to AT&T! :rolleyes:
 
Rot'nApple said:
What's that say about Steve Jobs decision to use AT&T's GSM technology as the way to go because it was more universal internationally?
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And what's that to say about Apple fans not realizing that CDMA+GSM phones are available (even from Verizon)?

What's that to say about Steve Jobs' decision to limit the Iphone to one radio protocol only, rather than using the multi-band chips that were available?

The whole GSM/CDMA debate is as pointless as the PowerPC/Intel debate, unless you are a regular world traveler. And if you regularly travel the world, choose a CDMA+GSM phone - not a restricted device like the Iphone.
 
This is why you can't say anything about other companies in adverts in Europe.
 
don't whine

Don't Whine AT&T go outside, climb some towers & get the job done.

It's too bad Verizon has to shame you into doing something that your customers have been promised; are paying for; and waiting for.

Shame on you AT&T
 
Small White Car said:
I complain about AT&T a LOT and even I'm on their side here.

The ads really do make it look like you can't use an iPhone in the non 3G areas. There needs to be some amount of honesty in these kind of ads.

Surely Verizon can find many ways to make themselves look better than AT&T. They shouldn't need to depend on iffy things like this.
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Especially when they show iPhone users missing email and messages. Simply not true. EDGE covers essentially everywhere, though at slower speed than 3G. Verizon's map and ads are misleading, imho.

And that's what courts are for. If you think you've been wronged, call the attorneys and sort it out. They will settle out of court for an undisclosed sum and no one will admit wrong doing. But the ads will change.

At least, ATT is picking on someone their own size. It's not like the Blackhawks are coming over the hill to capture a jail breaker.
 
Perhaps AT&T should drop the lawsuit and instead spend the lawyers fee's on actually adding more 3G coverage to match Verizion. But I guess if you cant beat em, sue em.
 
libertyforall said:
Are you insane?! MORE government regulation?! Please LESS! Government is the problem, NOT the solution. Socialism is a failure, unless you're poor and dumb thinking government is Santa Claus.

Bring back the liberty.
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Woohoo!

I think the majority of us are getting sick and tired of people feeling entitled to all of the things we should be working hard to have.

Stop thinking you "deserve" everything and try working hard for it.

All this crying about networks... come on, either you take the iPhone with AT&T or you switch to Verizon and another phone. You are _not_ entitled nor do you have any right to have the iPhone on any network. Take it or leave it children.
 
VenusianSky said:
Who is the real cry baby? Both

Verizon is just mad because they lost, and are still losing customers to AT&T because of the iPhone. They knew what they were doing in these ads. Their response was to use some creative, but misleading advertising.
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Oh boohoohoo. And the "simulated screen images" in the iPhone commercials aren't misleading?
 
archangel08 said:
the second i heard "there's a map for this" on tv, i got mad.

vz overdid it and they got what they deserved from that. i'd b surprised if at&t had NOT taken action against them.

for the record, i am an at&t customer, not an iPhone user, but i have zero complaints against my service. it has been a dramatic improvement from my last carrier, t-mobile ;)
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So your angry that made a good point? lol. You can't just sue someone because they hurt your feelings.
 
i laugh at verizon because their commercials repeat the same phrase "there's a map for that" like showing the map over and over has anything important to do with the lack of powerful features found on their phones.

anyone with any sense would take a better phone with "apps" over a bigger 3G "map"...esp since the other areas are covered well with 2.5G.
 
Ha!

I think the ads are really funny. My girlfriend and I have had ATT for years and we both constantly get dropped calls. If she wasn't using an iPhone, well you know. I'm in the SF bay area, so there's no excuse.
 
Verizon's map of 3g coverage is completely false. That is more likely their coverage of their entire network, not what their 3g service entails. Essentially what they did was put their entire coverage area on their map, called it 3g, and put AT&Ts 3g service on there and said wow look at the size of our package! They should have attacked the real issue, and that is GSM doesn't work in any building in my college because they are made of brick on concrete. I get to sit in class in pain watching all the VzW people txting away.

EDIT: Yeah, the map they use in the ad is of their digital voice coverage, not their national access (data) or MBB (even smaller) coverage. The key is also, there are tons of little holes in their NA and MBB coverage areas that make their coverage in some areas a huge pain. I'm no AT&T fan, but VzW is really deceptive when it comes to their coverage and service availability. They really aren't the most reliable 3g network.
 
Rot'nApple said:
Yeah, just ignore that whole Apple choosing AT&T thing because Apple was unable to obtain a similar agreement with the superior Verizon carrier where they have a much, much better network according to those posting here in the first place. :eek:

Yeah, Apple and their iPhone were dragged, kicking and screaming, all the way to AT&T! :rolleyes:
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I can assure you that the GSM/UTMS technology if rolled out correctly is superior to CDMA.

The big difference which gives CDMA better 3g coverage for both Sprint and VZ is that EVDO (3G on CDMA networks) is effectively a software upgrade. For UTMS/HSDPA, it requires new towers and a complete new infrastructure to support those towers. That's the main problem. VZ had their infrastructure in place.

Also the main reason Apple didn't go with VZ was that they wanted the iPhone to be a global product. Name me one product that is US only that Apple sells?

Oh, there isn't one. A CDMA phone would be useless for this world market model that Apple uses. GSM/HSDPA is ideal. Unfortunately the best coverage for GSM/HSDPA in the US is AT&T, which along with T Mobile is substandard. If you want to see how good 3g can be, check out Japan. Most of their networks are UTMS/HSDPA
 
AidenShaw said:
And what's that to say about Apple fans not realizing that CDMA+GSM phones are available (even from Verizon)?

What's that to say about Steve Jobs' decision to limit the Iphone to one radio protocol only, rather than using the multi-band chips that were available?

The whole GSM/CDMA debate is as pointless as the PowerPC/Intel debate, unless you are a regular world traveler. And if you regularly travel the world, choose a CDMA+GSM phone - not a restricted device like the Iphone.
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Why would I want to pay for a dual radio device when I ONLY need GSM/HSDPA. Why should I pay extra just because the US decides to be different to the rest of the world?

And FYI there are many world travellers based in Europe. I can tell you how many CDMA/GSM phones there are around here. It's a very round figure.
 
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