ATT Sues VZW (update suits dropped)

[meStevo]

...over the droid ads, or specifically, the 3G map they use in them and claim that it insinuates that there is no service provided in the white areas.

AT&T sues Verizon over 'there's a map for that' ads

In essence, we believe the ads mislead consumers into believing that AT&T doesn't offer ANY wireless service in the vast majority of the country. In fact, AT&T's wireless network blankets the US, reaching approximately 296M people. Additionally, our 3G service is available in over 9,600 cities and towns. Verizon's misleading advertising tactics appear to be a response to AT&T's strong leadership in smartphones. We have twice the number of smartphone customers... and we've beaten them two quarters in a row on net post-paid subscribers. We also had lower churn -- a sign that customers are quite happy with the service they receive.

Update 12/3: Lawsuits have been dropped: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/atandt-and-verizon-drop-lawsuits-make-nice-for-the-holidays/

 

[JamesJ]

maybe instead of putting money towards a legal case, they could upgrade their network a bit...maybe..as the map clearly states 3g coverage.

 

[meStevo]

In ATT's defense, white on the maps is not the same. For Verizon they are genuinely coverage gaps, while ATT has a massive 2G network.

I agree this is stupid though.

They could have taken the commercial a step further and made the distinction that ATT is built for 'this phone' and showed the old school Nokia, then started throwing up the map above, with light blue for the 2g and distinct dark blue for the 3g vs Verizon's well covered 3g map.

 

[pedrogarcia]

My money is on AT&T to win that one. The advert is clearly meant to mislead.

 

[JamesJ]

My money is on AT&T to win that one. The advert is clearly meant to mislead.

tell me where verizon isnt showing 3g coverage for att....also if you have seen the commercial it says voice and some data not reflected on it as at&t already asked them to change it once...it is a 3G coverage map plain and simple and to that it is 100% real....this is another case of sue happy america coming out when you think you are being mistreated, and instead of fixing the problem, you go after anyone who exposes you...sad is what it is.

 

[Ramy]

My money is on AT&T to win that one. The advert is clearly meant to mislead.

Sorry, won't happen.

 

[TheForce]

The coverage difference between the two is primarily the country not the major cities. AT&T has pretty good coverage for all major cities
but doesn't publish the area as a map because it is true that as you leave each city, you'll lose 3G along the highway. T- mobile is pretty bad all the way around and when I had them you'd be OK along the I95 highway but just get off a few miles on a side road and you lost not just GPRS but voice as well. T-Mobile is meant for those that sit in one place in major cities.

Verizon, on the other hand, is very good nation wide and has excellent coverage in the country. Last winter when I was sightseeing in the center of Nevada, where VZ map claims no EVDO, I had no problem getting spotty EVDO. It all depends on the altitude. Most of the valleys I lost it but never had a problem on the senic overlooks while driving the major highways.

The EVDO Map for Verizon just shows excellent coverage Sprint, not so good but from what I heard Sprint has contracts with Verizon for data and voice but I'm not sure if that means EVDO data or just 1X data.

 

[meStevo]

What the heck were you doing in the center of NV?

Area 51? A ghost town or two?

Only reason to come here is Tahoe and Vegas, not sure why you'd split the difference and pick the middle of the desert, so had to ask

 

[SatinKzo]

On the sprint coverage map (which is more than att easily) I beleieve they do haveban agreement with verizon since I get 3g in areas that are not on the sprint map

 

[grydlok]

The coverage difference between the two is primarily the country not the major cities. AT&T has pretty good coverage for all major cities
but doesn't publish the area as a map because it is true that as you leave each city, you'll lose 3G along the highway. T- mobile is pretty bad all the way around and when I had them you'd be OK along the I95 highway but just get off a few miles on a side road and you lost not just GPRS but voice as well. T-Mobile is meant for those that sit in one place in major cities.

Verizon, on the other hand, is very good nation wide and has excellent coverage in the country. Last winter when I was sightseeing in the center of Nevada, where VZ map claims no EVDO, I had no problem getting spotty EVDO. It all depends on the altitude. Most of the valleys I lost it but never had a problem on the senic overlooks while driving the major highways.

The EVDO Map for Verizon just shows excellent coverage Sprint, not so good but from what I heard Sprint has contracts with Verizon for data and voice but I'm not sure if that means EVDO data or just 1X data.

Sprint EVDO footprint is larger than AT&T HSPA footprint. FYI sprint and verizon had mutual roaming agreements on 1xRT data roaming for years. The EVDO roaming agreements Sprint has was with Alltel on Data roaming agreements. Until verizon purchases Alltel they didn't have a data roaming agreement inplace.

 

[Bulldog]

...over the droid ads, or specifically, the 3G map they use in them and claim that it insinuates that there is no service provided in the white areas.

AT&T sues Verizon over 'there's a map for that' ads

It clearly states “3G”; so it’s Apples to Apples for Pete’s sake! k:

AT&T claims that the consumer will be confused with this add?

Sorry AT&T, we are not comparing Apples to fruit basket.

 

[GunnyD]

Speaking of Apples,

The only reason that AT&T isn't bankrupt is because they have a monopoly on the iPhone. Hell Iv'e been a VZW customer since it was AirTouch Cellular, my phone weighed 3 pounds, only made calls, was $3 a minute, and I actually considered going AT&T to get an iPhone. Glad I didn't VZW data cost is way less than AT&T and GSM is a dying technology IMHO. Got a Samsung Omnia and am happy with it.

Get over it AT&T and prepare for the Apocalypse that is to come when Apple licenses a CDMA version of the iPhone.

 

[TheForce]

What the heck were you doing in the center of NV?

Area 51? A ghost town or two?

Only reason to come here is Tahoe and Vegas, not sure why you'd split the difference and pick the middle of the desert, so had to ask

It's classified!

 

[riffjim4069]

This is a stupid lawsuit since the ad clearly states "5X More 3G Coverage". Perhaps if AT&T spent more time and money upgrading their networks, then perhaps they wouldn't make it so easy for Verizon to use facts to make them look so foolish. Dismissed! Next case, please!

 

[rockymtnhigh]

My money is on AT&T to win that one. The advert is clearly meant to mislead.

As if Apple is not the king of manipulation.

 

[mike123abc]

I would have liked it much better if ATT worked to fill in the white space with 3G instead of trying to sue to stop the bad press.

 

[digiblur]

I thought the map commercial was great! Stick it to 'em.

I had 2 or 3 people mention to me since they know me for being on the up and up on some things. They were asking about Verizon's 3G coverage if that map was real. Pulled up the web and showed them. It's definitely got some people talking!

 

[DodgerKing]

...over the droid ads, or specifically, the 3G map they use in them and claim that it insinuates that there is no service provided in the white areas.

AT&T sues Verizon over 'there's a map for that' ads

All I can say is that I live in that bright blue area in SoCal so 3G for me works fine with ATT (that is were I spend 95% of my time). The other place in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, while hiking at 12,000+ feet and over 60 miles from any major area, ATT was the only service anyone can get. I was listening to my XM app, using my USGS elevation app, and listening to my favorite LA radio stations through OOtunes on my iPhone, while everyone else with Verizon was getting nothing.

And the network connection would switch between 3G and Edge. Most of the apps work perfectly fine in Edge. Even though the 3G is not as widespread as it is with Verizon, Edge pretty much makes up the rest.

 

[DodgerKing]

tell me where verizon isnt showing 3g coverage for att....also if you have seen the commercial it says voice and some data not reflected on it as at&t already asked them to change it once...it is a 3G coverage map plain and simple and to that it is 100% real....this is another case of sue happy america coming out when you think you are being mistreated, and instead of fixing the problem, you go after anyone who exposes you...sad is what it is.

I would have to agree here.

 

[Claude Greiner]

I got both AT&T and Verizon. Verizon is simply a better service, but AT&T has the better Phone so im pretty much stuck with both using my Verizon phone to talk and my AT&T Iphone for Data only.

Let Verizon come out with an Iphone and I will drop them in a minute, pay the cancellation fee to AT&T and even buy a new Iphone if I have to!