Dear AT&T -- Get over it and get better 3G coverage!

Dear AT&T — Get over it and get better 3G coverage!

19 November 2009 389 views Comments

As a lot of people, I’ve been reading over the past week or two about the legal battle between AT&T and Verizon.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s the gist: Verizon made the “there’s a map for that” ad showing AT&T’s poor 3G coverage, and AT&T started crying and tried to sue Verizon. Here’s the ad in case you missed it:

Honestly, personally I didn’t even like the ad at all and paid about 0% attention to it until AT&T started whining about it…thus drawing attention more to it. Way to go, AT&T!

But then Verizon came out with this one which I actually do really like:

…and then Verizon issued a 53-page rebuttal that 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.”

Yeah, Verizon! Way to stick to your guns!

Anyway, the reason I’m on Verizon’s side here is because I really am a fan of controversial ads when they’re clever and true – which this campaign is (the clever part being more about the Misfit Toys ad). Verizon and AT&T are competitors and no one can fault Verizon for calling out AT&T’s faults. It’s the nature of competition.

Instead of spending time and money trying to sue Verizon for ads that depict the truth, maybe AT&T should work on getting better 3G coverage and proving Verizon wrong — but that’s just my opinion.

What do you think?

Oh yeah, just to update you on the situation: Verizon won in round one of the legal battle. You can read about it on AdAge.

(Also, it’s important to note that I’m not a Verizon OR an AT&T customer…so I’m pretty unbiased here. I’m a T-mobile girl myself)

Now let’s discuss…

Rose ~ RedNeckWitch

Would you believe me, if I told you that we get no cell service around our home? :)

Harmon

I have to agree with both allenkristina and Sasha - I've been a long time customer of AT&T and I couldn't imagine going anywhere else. I do have "dropped calls" on occasion, but I think that is more of an issue specifically with my phone (hit buttons on the touch screen while talking) and not with the actual coverage. I have noticed times when people with Verizon have coverage that I don't, but its pretty rare and at times when I would actually rather not have cell coverage anyway, i.e. when camping, hiking, or shooting clay -- although it would be good for emergency situations.

The main reason I'm anti-Verizon goes back to the days when pretty much everybody had Nokia phones, and with AT&T you could use the same charger for them all. My brother had Verizon at the time, and even though he was getting the same phones that we were, he had to buy a new car charger for each one. I understand that it is a business and they are trying to make money, but that was ridiculous. Guess I'm still bitter :)

I feel like overall my experiences have been that although Verizon may have slightly better coverage, the customer service and support that I get from AT&T outweighs it, and clearly there are several of us loyal customers out there.

Kinda got off topic I guess...but great post :) I do think the ads are hilarious, but not enough to get me to switch carriers.

Sasha H. Muradali

Hey Nicole,

Wow, great post.

First, I've had ATT/Cingular for about eight years and I must be the one person I know who does not get dropped calls. *knock on wood.*

I love the Island of Lost Toys Ad though. It's so cute!

In terms of your post, this is a case of sit down and shut up. I swear there is something in the water this month.

Nicole VanScoten

Haha, I know! Everyone thinks they need to start some big fight when in reality there would be a lot less attention if they just kept their mouth shut!

allenkristina

I am an AT&T mobile user and have been for almost 10 years. I have an iPhone and yes, I drop calls and yes there are times I get stuck on the Edge network, but after all this time I'm pretty loyal to AT&T.

That being said, when I first saw the "There's a map for that" ad I fell in love with it. It's very clever and humorous. I had not seen the misfits Christmas ad until I came across your post, and I like that one too-- but neither are converting me over to Verizon.

I really don't think AT&T has much to worry about when it comes to the touch screen mobile phone market because iPhone fans will always be iPhone fans and in our eyes no other phone comes close (Apple brand loyalty perhaps?) and as long as AT&T has that exclusivity contract we're not going anywhere.

I agree with you though, AT&T should have just kept quiet and let it go.

Nicole VanScoten

Thanks for the comment! I agree with you - no matter how their coverage is, AT&T has the iPhone and that's a big win for them...which is probably why Verizon started this campaign to begin with. However, I have heard the iPhone is coming to other carriers soon...so we'll see if that's what really hurts AT&T...