AT&T is seeking a restraining order against a recent round of brutal holiday ads in its expanded federal complaint against rival Verizon Wireless. The ads attack AT&T's data network coverage, depicting iPhone as a 'misfit toy' that's been banished to Misfit Island because of AT&T's poor 3G coverage.
The company claims that, "Verizon is running a series of advertisements which falsely communicate that AT&T does not have wireless data coverage throughout much of the United States. Contrary to the image presented in the Verizon ads, our wireless network is pervasive. It covers over 300 million people, or 97 percent of the U.S. population. Our fastest, or 3G, network covers approximately 233 million people, or 75 percent of the U.S. population."
AT&T asserts that "Consumers are being misled into believing that AT&T's customers have no coverage whatsoever and thus cannot use their wireless devices when they are outside of AT&T's depicted coverage area."
The action filed by AT&T asks for "injunctive relief and damages," and asks the court to "immediately temporarily restrain, and preliminarily and permanently enjoin Verizon from running" both its ads.
In a controversial low blow, Verizon even uses a cute spotted elephant in its animated "Island of Misfit Toys" spot to make iPhone 3G look like a real horses ass. The retarded cuddly elephant asks all the right questions of iPhone allowing other toys to surmise that because of inferior 3G coverage iPhone will "fit right in" on the island of polished turds. Shockingly, Microsoft's Zune was not spotted in frame during the wide shot.
Even if Verizon is trying to peddle misleading data claiming 5X more 3G coverage than AT&T with fantastical fabricated maps, the ad is brilliant and has clearly narded AT&T where it really hurts. Although bent over in excruciating pain from tingling in their naughty parts, the number two wireless carrier is not going down without a credible fight.
You can read more of the painful details at AppleInsider. They even have colorful charts on the subject.
I think they are just trying to set the market up for the new Droid, the Verizon iphone Alternative. I'd miss my itunes though..sniff.
Posted by: sparklekt | November 25, 2009 at 10:11 AM