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AT&T Publicly Responds to Verizon Ad Campaign

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AT&T today published a public response to a recent series of advertisements from rival Verizon attacking AT&T's 3G network coverage. The latest spat between the two companies began last month with Verizon ads using map-based representations of AT&T's and Verizon's 3G coverage areas, with Verizon's network being touted as covering five times the area of AT&T's.

Earlier this month, AT&T filed suit against Verizon for misleading advertising, claiming that the ads implied that AT&T offered no coverage outside of the highlighted 3G areas, when in fact the vast majority of those areas are covered by the company's EDGE network, which the company claims is virtually identical to its 3G coverage with the exception of data transfer speed.

Today's release from AT&T takes its argument directly to the public in an effort to "set the record straight" on what AT&T has to offer. While the release does not directly mention the iPhone, it is clear that the much of the dispute over AT&T's 3G coverage has centered on the popular device.
As the U.S. market leader in wireless data service, we typically don't respond to competitors' advertising. 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.
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In the release, AT&T details the three types of technology used in its wireless networks (3G, EDGE, GPRS), the functionalities offered by each technology, and the respective coverage areas by population in the United States. The company also touts the breadth of popular smartphones available to customers and the availability of over 100,000 applications, both obvious references to the iPhone. Finally, AT&T notes that it has the "nation's fastest 3G network", which also offers the ability to handle voice and data simultaneously.

Article Link: AT&T Publicly Responds to Verizon Ad Campaign
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/11/13/atandt-publicly-responds-to-verizon-ad-campaign/
thegoldenmackid said:
Engadget said it right when they said it's probably a better investment to improve your network then invest in lawsuits.
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Yup.

Verizon certainly seems to be getting under AT&T's skin with its ads focused on comparing 3G coverage -- not only is Ma Bell suing over 'em, it's now issuing PR to clarify what it sees as the inaccuracies of the entire campaign. If you'll recall, AT&T thinks Verizon's 1:1 comparison of 3G coverage maps makes it look like AT&T doesn't have any coverage at all across most of the country -- which means that our nation's largest wireless carrier is now in the sad position of pimping its gigantic EDGE network in response. Let's all gloss over the absolutely huge difference in 3G versus EDGE together, shall we?

With both 3G and EDGE coverage, customers can access the Internet, send e-mail, surf the Web, stream music, download videos, send photos, text, talk and more. The only difference – with some data applications, 3G is faster than EDGE.​

Right, right -- the only difference. That must be why Apple named it the iPhone EDGE Slightly Faster.

Now, AT&T has a valid point when it says that its 3G map covers 75 percent of the nation's population, and that Verizon's conflation of total 3G coverage with actual network quality is slightly misleading. But you know what? We watch our iPhones drop from 3G to EDGE and even to GPRS all day long in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, and that has nothing to do with the damn map, and everything to do with AT&T's actual network quality. Let's put it this way: Verizon's ad campaign would be totally ineffective if it didn't ring so true, and the best way for AT&T to counter these ads is to build a rock-solid network, not filing lawsuits and issuing press releases bragging about freaking EDGE. We all clear on this? Good.
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Engadget.
 
I'd comment with my own opinion, but Engadget already took the words from me:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/atandt-responds-to-verizons-3g-ad-campaign-by-bragging-about-e/

Now, AT&T has a valid point when it says that its 3G map covers 75 percent of the nation's population, and that Verizon's conflation of total 3G coverage with actual network quality is slightly misleading. But you know what? We watch our iPhones drop from 3G to EDGE and even to GPRS all day long in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, and that has nothing to do with the damn map, and everything to do with AT&T's actual network quality.
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So very true in my experience. When I'm in Sprint's or Verizon's EVDO coverage I have a 3G signal I never see go down to 1XRTT. However a lot of time I'm right smack dab in the middle of AT&T's 3G coverage I remember seeing my iPhone switch between 3G and EDGE or even stay in EDGE. I remember once at Wal-Mart right off I-10 in a town with full 3G coverage I was bragging about how I could find a cheaper price than what Wal-Mart was selling a DVD for to a few friends. I break out my iPhone 3GS and what do I have? 3 bars of GPRS.
 
I guess that's one of the perks of living near Apple HQ. AT&T makes sure our area coverage is good so that Apple doesn't complain :p
 
So, its false of Verizon to say they have a larger 3G area of coverage than AT&T? I know for a fact that Verizon isn't lying about that. I cannot wait until my AT&T contract runs out in Jan.
 
Has anyone seen the most recent Verizon commercial featuring AT&T's 3G map? It features the iPhone waddling up in the snow to a bunch of Christmas toys who no one wants (it's a remake of the scene from the Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer tv movie).

Anyway, one night on tv, one of the "Mac vs. PC" ads came on, and did the normal anti-Windows push. The commercial directly following this? The Verizon commercial above. I realize that Verizon is targeting AT&T and not Apple, but still found it amusing.
 
Quote from AT&T's statement:
"More wireless apps. Unlike Verizon, AT&T customers have access to more than 100,000 applications, more than with any other wireless company."

That is so pathetic! By no means has AT&T significantly contributed to Apple's appstore and its success!
Plus, their statement suggests that all customers (not only iPhone customers) have access to those apps. Which is false!
 
Verizon's map is wrong as of today

Interestingly enough, I live in a small city where 3G has been promised for months, and this morning I woke up to discover the E replaced with a lovely 3G on my Iphone.
The question becomes, is this AT&Ts way of playing catch-up, or simply a maneuver to make their case against Verizon?
Either way, I don't care. I have 3G.
 
Said this in the other thread, but wanted to post this in the official thread:

I have 3G service almost everywhere I go. When I'm not in a 3G area... guess what, I STILL get coverage. I can STILL browse the web and I can still make calls.

The real question is... who has more voice and data coverage? AT&T or Verizon?

AT&T has: GPRS, EDGE and 3G
Verizon has: Just 3G

The Verizon is comparing their total coverage to AT&T's 3G coverage. I think that's an unfair comparison. The fact is... the iPhone doesn't stop working when it goes out of the blue areas.
 
Is it true that you can't talk and use the internet at the same time with Verizon 3G? I do that all the time. I'd even go so far as to say that's an important feature for a smartphone network. Hm. I don't think either company is flat out better than the other. I think we should have iPhone for both companies so people can choose based on their location.
 
Want to beat Verizon...it's easy

ATT..........Listen up!!!

Make voice over internet free!!!! so when you have Wifi reception, all calls get route via Wifi instead of EDGE or 3G. Minutes will apply but no additional charges.

This tactic immediately improve your coverage around the WORLD but most IMPORTANTLY to the subscriber's HOME (entire home as long as WIFI is avail), OFFICES (WIFI), BASEMENT, TUNNELS, SUBWAY!!!!!!!!!
 
XciteMe said:
What's technically faster - AT&T's Edge or Verizon's 1X?? Just curious.... Thanks.
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Three times..really now?

1x is 1/10th the speed of EVDO according to some article. Evdo is between 400-700 kbps so it is 40-70 kbps

Edge is 70-135 kbps

The Google Searches, four links in five minutes.

You could have done it rather then posting five identical posts. Now, will you go back to that thread you started a couple of days ago where I called you out and responded.

Thanks.
 
AT&T: "Let's set the record straight. Yeah, our network sucks ass. But we're the only one with the iPhone. Too bad for you!"
 
If there is any missunderstanding by the consumer of Verizon's ads, it's AT&T's and Apple's fault.

For 2 years AT&T and Apple have made 3G a key selling feature of the 3G and 3Gs. They mentioned nothing of voice coverage or EDGE service. 3G was a must have feature and the iPhone and AT&T had it.

Verizon responded by saying Verizons 3G coverage is better than AT&T. They said nothing more, nothing less. Now AT&T is backtracking saying that 3G isn't important because they have EDGE service outside those areas.

Whose fault is it *really* that consumers think 3G is required for an iPhone to work? It sure wasn't a few weeks Verizons ads. It was years of AT&T and Apple ads.
 
AT&T Is Kinda Cruddy

I live in Fort Smith, Arkansas. We supposedly have 3G service, but for nearly the last month, we've gotten so many dropped calls, garbled sound and voicemails that appear without the preceding ring. I'm looking at Android on Verizon or at least a mi-fi since tethering still isn't happening for iPhone. I've had all 3 versions of the iPhone. Love it, but AT&T, not so much.
 
It is probably true that Verizon's 3G covers more area than ATTs 3G, but not more area than ATT's total coverage.

I'd be interested to know if ATT's 3G covers more population than Verizon's.

ATT moves much more data than Verizon, but their speed is suffering from the success of the iPhone.
 
PeterQVenkman said:
AT&T: "Let's set the record straight. Yeah, our network sucks ass. But we're the only one with the iPhone. Too bad for you!"
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An Iphone that only works sometimes. An Iphone that drops calls.

Nonetheless, I still love it...no, I'm IN love with it. So I guess I have to deal with all that other bad stuff. lol
 
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