AT&T 'hits' back at Verizon's Map for That campaign with an 'ad' of its own
By Paul Miller 
posted Nov 18th 2009 7:31PM
posted Nov 18th 2009 7:31PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted Nov 18th 2009 7:31PM
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Haha, that made me laugh. But it is true. Truth hurts. VZW people will start moaning.....
Looking a little pudgy right?
But the most important thing about a network is to start with the letter "V"
The whole 100K apps thing though is all Apple. Not unique to AT&T. Though I guess it's good marketing.
Desperation is a stinky cologne.
I have no dog in this fight (not with either carrier), but this seems like a sorta lame comeback. The "fastest 3G network" point is the only one which seems to have potential for traction (so guess they should focus on that). "Talk and surf at the same time" -- how many people are gonna care?
i alot of people would care, are you retarded?
@Nick: I can't read what you posted, it's turned all white... You asked about something being retarded? (try your sentence structure)
I take issue with that "data and talk at the same time" one. I don't know about Verizon phones, but whenever I talk on my Sprint phone, it drops down to 1X, it doesn't kill the data connection entirely. Anyone with a Verizon phone wanna give this one a shot? Call someone, then pull up a webpage. I bet it'll still work, even if at the slower AT&T-esque speeds.
I think Verizon could hit back pretty hard against "Fastest network" too. They could have a guy stand in one little spot, saying "Look, I've got the fastest network", then take a step to the side and say "Wait, never mind", while Verizon phones are dancing around at nice stable speeds.
Plus, Sprint has launched WiMax, at least in a few locations, which is worlds faster than AT&T's "3G". Sure, it isn't available everywhere, but neither is AT&T's "fastest" 3G network. In most places, even their 3G is much slower.
I stand corrected. My browser was caching data. My bad! Learning is fun, even if it comes after I post a foolish comment.
I can still turn on Wifi and surf and talk at the same time.
Im not sure you're retarded but that statement was; because i care. i have the "V" and the MotoDroid and yes it does matter. i tried to do both the moment i received my Droid... crushing. I was on the phone talking with the speaker phone on while someone on the other line asked me to look up a movie on my internets phone (smartphone) and all i got was a loud error noise. thats retarded. In a world where the Iphone does this; The Droids doesnt. So coming from someone on 'the network' with the Droid, yes, indeed it does matter that we cant do those things at the same time... at least right NOW:)
I like a good cat fight. Comparing the two ads VZ wins by a lot. Why? What good is a 3g experience that has such limited access in the US and where in two key markets NYC and SF people are at wits ends due to overcapacity.
I do think that the key to the iphone's success is not the phone and the device per say, it is the functionality benefits of great content of itunes along with the ease of syncing. MLB live, games, movies, NYC nightly news, itunes music (my faves) of the 100,000 apps really make this a great phone experience. But have you looked at the Andriod app portal? I know its new, but geez, they got a looooong way to go, but Google does have big pockets. What are their plans for that, robust like itunes? I was thinking VZ should partner with real.com or even good old napster mobile, they have a legacy of relationships with great content. That could be a leg in.
As far as surfing and talking at the same time benefit, I don't get that. I guess bluetoothing or speakerphoning at the same time a surfing? Maybe to 5% of the planet that's groovy.
I think they have an extra "s" at the end of "most popular smartphone(s)."
Bottom line this war and competitive pressure will drive technology increases at lower prices, so for the consumer, its a win-win due to a free market. God bless America.
Oh yeah, this commercials last reason, ATT is better than VZ is because it starts with a "V"? Seems desperate to me, like someone is wounded. As I guy I like something that starts with a V, cause I got an app for that. BTW How about networks that start with S or T? They're ok with you , ATT?
How is AT&T the fastest network??? They need an asterisk by that with the word theoretical...
And to get that voice and data you'll have to hunt down a 3g signal because that doesnt work with edge...
Everything this commercial says is "mostly" true -- same as Verizon's.
The simple reality is that there are trade-offs:
1) AT&T has the fastest 3G network -- this is only true in theory and in certain markets. Real world tests often put AT&T barely above Verizon, and with much less coverage. Would you rather have 800kbps nearly everywhere, or 950kbps only in cities? Everyone's needs are different, but me, I'd rather have coverage in all the places where I live, work, and play.
2) Talk and surf at the same time -- very true, and there's no denying that Verizon (and Sprint) won't be able to offer this until LTE rollouts are well underway. No contest here. (That said, even as evil as they are, you don't see Verizon pimping 1xRTT like AT&T is pimping EDGE...)
3) Most popular smartphones -- this kind of subjective, as Verizon has many very popular smartphones as well, notable Blackberries. And how do you define smartphone? Can the iPhone tether out of the box yet? ;-) Again, everyone has different needs. Tethering is huge for me, and frankly the only thing that has kept me from at least trying the iPhone for 30 days (that, and MMS, copy/paste, video recording, autofocus, and many other things with which Apple was shamefully late).
4) 100,000 apps -- OK people, stop quoting app numbers. It just doesn't make sense, especially when 95% of those apps are borderline useless. Same goes for Android: I'm never going to have 10,000 apps on my phone, and the majority of them are pointless anyway, so why advertise it to me? Fail on all sides.
I'd definitely go out on a limb and say that their 3rd point is less true than the rest. I think Sprint and Verizon both have more desirable phones than At&t. The 9700 and the iPhone are the only two phones I could ever see myself picking up on At&t's network.
To me is just funny that att even bothers on replying, their 3g network sucks plain and simple they are just making themselves look stupid. They are the second biggest wireless carrier but in terms of data their 3g can't even compete with sprint (third largest carrier) which has twice as much 3g network coverage than ATT.
Real world test have shown Sprint as the better one for data with vzw right behind them by a small marging.
Sprint 3g has proven more reliable than vzw and att but not by much from vzw such as the latest real world test by pc world.
It would be funny and a big blow to att if sprint came out with a similar add like verizon stating att weak 3g network.
@(Unverified)
AT&T's data service is NOT only available in certain cities, and you are only proving that Verizon's new ad is misleading. AT&T has data coverage in nearly as many parts of the country as Verizon. I receive emails on my phone all the time, in my travels across the country. It may not always be 3G, but I still have data. Lucky for me, most of the places I stay or frequent most often are covered in 3G. And for me that makes a HUGE difference. I do find it important being able to access voice and data at the same time... meaning my emails are still coming in as I talk on the phone. And my data is MUCH faster than any friend I have with a Verizon phone.
um. . .i just made a phone call AND surfed onto engadget.com on my G1. . . .i have t-mobile. . . . hrmmmm
im pretty sure that the android market will have 100k apps in the very near future (i haven't seen a recent app count)
come on ATT. you can do better then that! Im just sorry for luke wilson. he just got made the face of a smear campaign all across the int3rwebz. iPhone haters across the world will have a hayday with this one.
Ok you clearly missed the part where the commercial was highlighting the advantages of AT&T over Verizon; no one said a damn about your crappy T-Mobile network.
Limitations of CDMA/EVDO don't allow for simultaneous voice and data usage. THAT'S what Mr. Wilson was kindly pointing out. GSM/HSPA networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile don't suffer from that problem. Never was he saying that only AT&T was capable of doing that.
Lame.
Wow that was the worst comeback I have seen. AT&T should have just stuck to pimping edge. I'm with sprint so I have no allegiance to either company but after seeing both commercials I say Verizons is MUCH MUCH better. Without the iphone ATT is nothing so I wonder what they will say once the iphone is on another network like big red. 100,000 apps lol as if they built the app store, its APPLES not yours ATT. Lol this commercial just annoys me so much I almost want to cancel sprint just to give big red one more number lol.
Without the iPhone, AT&T's 3G network would actually be usable again. Before the iPhone it was awesome. Now, dropping calls is practically a trademark. For me, it's not bad enough to get me to switch, but if it continues to decline in 2010, Verizon will be signing me up for a BlackBerry Tour2.
AT&T.. seriously, this isn't the way to go. I've been a loyal customer for years, but you got called out fair and square. The ONLY appropriate response to Verizon is to build out your network to handle the demand.
ATT Cust. here... Hope to be an ex-cust. soon......
Ready to go with who ever comes out with HTC SnapDragon A2.0 device...
I really hope Google doesn't make their VoIP device a ATT exclusive... Would choose TMobile in my area any day of the year...
This commercial is weak as a comeback... What... Is it 1992 or something... Why didn't they get Ross Perot to lend them some charts...
ATT has about 45 days to claim the fastest network... Then they'll have to answer to TMobile (7.2Mbps)...
@Y314K I think they have to answer to t-mobile where ATT and T mobile exist in the Same Market.
Maybe verizon should point out in a new commercial that at least they get better signal (cdma) inside buildings and they're signal doesn't get disconnected on the elevator such as crappy gsm signal does
I am freaking tiered of having to cut a cell phone call as soon as i get close to the elevators... It's pathetic... I am always asking others that don't loose signal what carrier they got... The answer has never been ATT... Fail!!!
wow, very very pathetic attempt at a comeback att. thats pretty pathetic i guess they just figured something is better than nothing but damn!
Apple: "i'm sick of holding these jerks up...they're getting freaking heavy on my shoulders. My iPhone is being held back and can't reach it's full potential. I put out all this great advertising and this is the best they can do for VZW straight dissing me? I'm ready to sign these papers on these fools. Can't wait for the divorce to be final. Why couldn't they just be straight up. I have the best smartphone (singular) in the game. I have over 100,000 apps (thanks to all my developers for your fart apps, keep them coming, we will approve all, but we will scrutinize all useful apps)."
I can say that I actually have used my AT&T BlackBerry to jump on the web and check something out for a friend who was on the voice line. It can be useful, and if Verizon phones can't do it, that is in fact a negative tick in the feature comparison war. I mean, why can't they do that?
Like Wilson has definitely gained a little weight.
Luke*
Lol whoops.
@elgee02 a little?
I guess they still had some crappy orange furniture laying around from their days as Cingular. Let's use our old shit... throw it into a bare bones looking, dead, cleaned out office (all the furloughed off workers that should have been building out at&t's 3G network, I presume), and talk about our "checkpoints"?? Really?
Whomever runs their ad agency should be fired... then possibly flogged.
just making sure I am not unverified
A multi-billion dollar company like at&t comes back at verizon with a weaka$$ add like that, the injunction should be filed against them for being so un-original and lame! LOL
Im an ATT user, but this commercial really doesn't hook anybody to swtich over. A for effort, but C for quality.
This fight reminds me of a fight where the first guys gets in some hard punches in the face of his opponent and the response is a telegraphed punch that misses completely.
---I also agree....what the heck happened to Luke? He is on his way to Fluffy with a direct path to DAMN!---
1) Lame commercial
2) Luke Wilson?
3) Spend the money on upgrading your network, not your marketing campaign
4) 100,00 apps is deceptive
5) Without iPhone AT&T is bankrupt.
Omg its Soooo ridiculous!
i work for vreizonwireless as a sales rep and i play that comercial for all customers ours and theirs ..... i cant even tell you how many people laugh at ATT and for fun i downloaded it to my new motorola droid on the REAL LARGEST MOST RELIABLE NETWORK and dont mention to people that i work for verizon and boy ..... i get too many "att is wack's" its just too funny.
when i get up in the morning and go to work i feel like a champ ....
P.S. on average i make more than an att rep and we spend more on the network ;-)
That was too harsh guys. Sorry about that. As long as I can sell and make people happy att can make all the sad commercials they want.
I didn't know 100,000 apps was a feature of their network?
You can only get those apps with one phone.
Why are they getting mad at Verizon's Map ad's they are "false advertising" just as much a the big Red.
They need to change it from Nations Fastest 3G network, to Chicago (I think thats where they have their trials) fastest 3G network... (also didn't Sprint win those challenges on speed??? Also, I wouldn't say the iPhone is really a smart phone... But whatever, when they lay it out like that especially the last one with "starts with the letter V" it really looks like they are whining and just throwing a tantrum. Will probably actually hurt sales.
Another great Verizon commercial. I guess they aren't too worried about AT&T's legal team. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEWTqMf8Np4
I see positive and negative on both sides. However, I am an AT&T customer with no complaints. The new AT&T add kinda stinks but it gets to the point that AT&T wants to make, there is more to 3G than just coverage area. I don't think AT&T is gonna let it rest with this one commercial. I've already seen more ads from AT&T (and a new iPhone add) that focuses more on one or two points, instead of many. I don't think we've seen them all yet.
I like that I can talk and browse at the same time. I get stuck on long conference calls and it's great to be able to browse and get email at the same time. I'd be frustrated if my phone didn't deliver my email until after my 1.5 hour conference call. The 3G coverage is great in my area with few dropped calls. I've done speed tests on my aircard and my friends VZW aircard and mine is faster where I use it. I loose 3G when traveling between a few cities...but I'm DRIVING! I don't need 3G then! Even when using EDGE my Navigator and email services still work fine. Verizon has a great network and with the Droid in the line-up, switching is tempting. But I've got no need to fix something that isn't broke.