ZDNet reports that Verizon fired off a public response to AT&T’s lawsuit. The two sides will meet in court in Atlanta on Wednesday, but Verizon chose to begin the arguments in the court of public opinion by emailing numerous reporters and bloggers with their response.
As we reported last week, AT&T’s suit is asking for a restraining order on the Verizon ads they describe as “blatantly false and misleading.” The latest Verizon ads aired since the suit was filed make it clear they are only discussing 3G coverage. But they’re still hard-hitting, with lines like “Good luck browsing the Web with that one.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that AT&T commissioned a survey that found that "23.5 percent of people are deceived by the ads."
Verizon is apparently confident in their legal position, because they didn’t soften their stance. In the email they said, “AT&T did not file this lawsuit because Verizon’s ‘There’s A Map For That’ advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon’s ads are true and the truth hurts.” They went on to say, “AT&T now is attempting to silence Verizon’s ads that include maps graphically depicting the geographic reach of AT&T’s 3G network as compared to Verizon’s own 3G network because AT&T does not like the truthful picture painted by that comparison.”
Carmine5
November 18, 2009 at 1:44pm
Ultimately, Apple and Verizon are going to have to get together. Verizon has the killer network but mediocre phone offerings. Apple has the killer phone. Together they will be unstoppable. Apple knows it, Verizon knows it and AT&T knows it--and fears it as indicated by their overreaction to Verizon's ads.
Quayzar
November 17, 2009 at 10:37pm
AT&T is being ridiculous. While there are obvious faults with the Verizon advert, for example I live in an area with great 3G AT&T coverage which is completely blank on the commercial's map, AT&T is complaining about Verizon misrepresenting 3G as a need for actual voice services which it is simply not doing. Verizon's adverts maybe misleading for the fact that the AT&T 3G coverage map Verizon showed was missing some of the 3G coverage area AT&T does have but there is no problem with the premise of the advert.
Unfortunately AT&T chose to sue and made themselves look petty and bitter (they are) but AT&T could have countered with advert correcting Verizon if they felt this way. Perhaps they could have tried to explain the problems they saw with the Verizon advert or the difference between the two versions of 3G as by Verizon's standard EDGE would be counted as 3G since lots of the map showing Verizon's 3G area actually shows EDGE level CDMA2000 1x EVDO service. Technically Edge is a 3G service by the International Telecommunication Union's IMT-2000 but AT&T markets EDGE as 2.5 or 2.75G to prevent confusion with the much faster yet still 3G service UMTS.
Mind you I still think Verizon is right to show the map that way and that AT&T has dropped the ball on 3G, especially since locally 3G coverage took 2 years longer than first reported and that's nearly a Windows Vista sized delay, but Verizon has been just as guilty with their EVDO Rev. A and B roll out and considering they still call 1x EVDO 3G I think they are misleading their customers into thinking they are providing true modern 3G in the entirety of that Reagan vs Walter Mondale level red Verizon map.
Alas the US mobile network is the joke of the industrialised world and our service providers are contented with the status quo. If you don't believe me look at Canada's Roger's wireless and note that they are considered a terrible company yet get the job done better than most US providers.
Mman633
November 17, 2009 at 5:39pm
I personaly love Verison. I mean on vacation out in the middle of no-where Iowa i had full bars. The ads do clearly state 3G coverage.AT&T should stop griping and get there "America's Fastest 3G Network" up to snuff. They dont realy have a case at all. Once apple finally dumps AT&T im getting a Verison Iphone.
