Thread: AT&T Sues Verizon for the ads!

AT&T is probably pissed because they know at some point VZW will steal their cash cow (the iPhone) from them and all their customers will be gone...

Here is AT&T's map

Here is Verizon's map

I guess AT&T is pissed cause they use their "partner networks" to cover those areas.

Originally Posted by NuchDog

Here is AT&T's map

Here is Verizon's map

I guess AT&T is pissed cause they use their "partner networks" to cover those areas.

No what AT&T is mas is they took only their 3G coverage map.. nothing extra no edge or anythign else they may be the fastest but they are the smallest

Originally Posted by jnepsa

No what AT&T is mas is they took only their 3G coverage map.. nothing extra no edge or anythign else they may be the fastest but they are the smallest

Here is their Data map. Pay close attention to the darkest blue that represents 3G and compare to vzw's 3G area

Originally Posted by jlevy73

This is one of my personal favorites...
YouTube - The iPhone Ad You'll Never See

Love that one!!!

It just cracks me up every time I see it.:laugh2:

My contact over at VZW just sent me this email going over the Lawsuit and I thought I would share...

* Wants to stop use of "misleading" maps in Verizon ads
* Says ads are causing "incalculable" market share loss
* AT&T asks for temporary restraining order
* Verizon Wireless says suit without merit (Adds Verizon Wireless comment, detail from suit, background)
NEW YORK, Nov 3 (Reuters) - AT&T Inc (
T.N) is suing Verizon Wireless in an effort to stop its bigger mobile rival from using "misleading" coverage maps in advertisements that AT&T says are causing it to lose "incalculable market share." According to the lawsuit which AT&T filed in Atlanta federal court, a recently launched ad campaign shows maps with white spaces that mislead consumers into thinking AT&T has no network coverage outside of areas where it offers high-speed mobile services, known as third-generation or 3G.
But AT&T argued that its customers can "fully use their wireless devices outside of a '3G' coverage area and undisputedly have coverage in areas depicted by white or blank spaces on the maps used in Verizon's advertisements."
It asked the court for a temporary restraining order against Verizon Wireless so its rival cannot benefit from the ads while the court sets a date for a preliminary and permanent injunction hearing.
Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications Inc (
VZ.N) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L), said the AT&T suit was without merit. Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Nancy Stark said the ads in question "clearly state" that voice and data services are available outside 3G areas. She said the ads were intended to tell consumers about coverage for smartphones, which are used for data services.
Since most of the U.S. population already use cellphones for phone calls, operators are depending on high-speed data service offerings to attract new customers or convince existing customers to spend more money on cell services.
AT&T's exclusive U.S. right to sell Apple Inc's (
AAPL.O) iPhone helped the No. 2 U.S. operator to gain market share from Verizon Wireless during the quarter ended in September. But since then, AT&T said the ads launched by Verizon in October have caused it to lose market share.
AT&T described how the Verizon ads use maps comparing 3G coverage in the Verizon Wireless and AT&T network, using color to depict areas where each carrier has 3G and blank spaces to in areas where 3G is not available.
Because Verizon uses white spaces in its own maps for areas where it has no coverage, consumers are incorrectly interpreting the blank spaces on the AT&T maps to mean it has no wireless coverage in those areas, AT&T said.
"Verizon has stepped over the line of legitimate comparative advertising," AT&T said in the lawsuit.
The case is AT&T Mobility LLC v. Cellco Partnership, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 09-3057. (Reporting by
Sinead Carew, editing by Gerald E. McCormick and Tim Dobbyn)

Thank you kbizzles! I guess this economy times are rough and even carries feel it.
Posted via BlackBerry device

I hope AT&T goes bankrupt trying to fight this. They are the 2nd worst cell company I've ever had (the worst being NexTel). Their customer service reps were unfriendly and I always seemed to have billing issues.

I wondered when this would come up. I had AT&T for 8 years (Blackberry's & iPhones) & their 3G is WAAAYY faster than Verizon's 3G. In fact AT&T's EDGE, which is available almost everywhere (probably equivalent to the 'red' on Verizon's map) is the same speed as Verizon's 3G. AT&T's 3G is available is less area, but is much faster than Verizon 3G. So in short, AT&T's EDGE & Verizon's 3G are essentially the same speeds with approximately the same coverage. While AT&T's 3G is much faster, with less coverage.

MobileCrunch has a leaked AT&T memo that explains how their reps should handle the issue when anyone asks about the lawsuit. It's kind of funny how lame this lawsuit really is in my opinion. Pretty much the reps are to say AT&T is awesome.

Read the memo on MobileCrunch

Finally these stupid commercials are going to be taken off air. I am surprised they didnt see a lawsuit sooner considering they stole the "There is an App for that" Apple commercial phrase, and simply replaced App with Map (WOW so creative VZ! Not.) and then the whole ATT slander. I am so put off by how VZW works - ick ick.

Oh and has anyone noticed the introduction of THREE YEAR contracts. WTFFFFFFFFF:aargh4:

Originally Posted by BlackBerryBoss

Finally these stupid commercials are going to be taken off air. I am surprised they didnt see a lawsuit sooner considering they stole the "There is an App for that" Apple commercial phrase, and simply replaced App with Map (WOW so creative VZ! Not.) and then the whole ATT slander. I am so put off by how VZW works - ick ick.

Oh and has anyone noticed the introduction of THREE YEAR contracts. WTFFFFFFFFF:aargh4:

...aaannddd the early termination fee going from $175 to $350 starting Nov 15th?!

Originally Posted by jpking

I wondered when this would come up. I had AT&T for 8 years (Blackberry's & iPhones) & their 3G is WAAAYY faster than Verizon's 3G. In fact AT&T's EDGE, which is available almost everywhere (probably equivalent to the 'red' on Verizon's map) is the same speed as Verizon's 3G. AT&T's 3G is available is less area, but is much faster than Verizon 3G. So in short, AT&T's EDGE & Verizon's 3G are essentially the same speeds with approximately the same coverage. While AT&T's 3G is much faster, with less coverage.

Since I won't do business with AT&T for other reasons, I'll take what you say as true since I don't have anything that would tell me different, HOWEVER, your post makes me want to ask this question, why are you on Verizon if you think AT&T is so great? I see you have a Storm and just wanted to know why you support AT&T with your words but not your money. just curious and please don't tell me it just for the phone because the first Storm and OS 4.7.0.68 would make anyone run to a Bold if they had the choice.

It just seems funny that AT&T is not claiming that it's not TRUE, just that it's misleading. So I have to ask the question, does AT&T have 3G in the white spaces that Verizon shows on the map or not?

Is Verizon being snarky with this add, well of course they are, but are they misleading anyone about 3G coverage, I don't think so, but if there are folks out there that think this means that AT&T doesn't have cell phone coverage in those areas, well then maybe those type folks shouldn't have a cell phone to begin with, they probably think you can take a nap with the car on cruse control. :laugh2:

^^^that last part literally made me LOL

Originally Posted by jnepsa

you mean MAP for that :laugh2:



The map VZW uses for VZW 3g is only their coverage none of their 'patners', and the same goes with the AT&T map.. they are using the same base for either one so it seems pointless to me.

Hopefully the judge or whoever hears this case will understand that the commercial is comparing apples to apples; 3G service and not service as a whole and toss AT&T and their lawyers out on their asses along with this frivolous lawsuit. If they'd fix their crappy network Verizon wouldn't be able to pick on them about it.

Folks I know carriers can be a hott topic.. but lets try to keep the level of attitude to a small amount here.. No need to get rude with each other

watches the commercial again, man i loved the first time i seen it on tv

Originally Posted by Goldwinger

Since I won't do business with AT&T for other reasons, I'll take what you say as true since I don't have anything that would tell me different, HOWEVER, your post makes me want to ask this question, why are you on Verizon if you think AT&T is so great? I see you have a Storm and just wanted to know why you support AT&T with your words but not your money. just curious and please don't tell me it just for the phone because the first Storm and OS 4.7.0.68 would make anyone run to a Bold if they had the choice.

It just seems funny that AT&T is not claiming that it's not TRUE, just that it's misleading. So I have to ask the question, does AT&T have 3G in the white spaces that Verizon shows on the map or not?

Is Verizon being snarky with this add, well of course they are, but are they misleading anyone about 3G coverage, I don't think so, but if there are folks out there that think this means that AT&T doesn't have cell phone coverage in those areas, well then maybe those type folks shouldn't have a cell phone to begin with, they probably think you can take a nap with the car on cruse control. :laugh2:

I'm not saying AT&T is so great, or that it's better than Verizon. Just stating my opinion of the difference in 3G speeds. AT&T does not have 3G coverage in the white areas on the map, but DOES have EDGE, which is just as fast as Verizon's 3G (GSM 3G is much faster than CDMA 3G). So AT&T's 3G is quite a bit faster, just not nearly as much coverage (as shown by the map). And yes, a big part of the reason why I'm with Verizon is because of the Storm (among other things). I had a couple iPhones with AT&T, but got frustrated with the fact that the phone is so locked down. Apple is waaayyy too strict on their permissions and what you can and CAN'T do with their phone. I've always been a BB fan. And yes, the Storm did suck when I first got it, but the hybrids on this site made it much more bearable, plus the freedom to actually be able to PUT these hybrids on, and do as I choose with my phone ...unlike Apple. I apologize if it sounded like I was bashing Verizon. Like I said, just stating my opinion on the 3G thing.

If we are talking about AT&T 3G speeds, AT&T does not have the fastest 3G speeds as far carriers go. Over at BGR, they had their users give them speed data and if I remember correctly, AT&T came in 3rd. Sprint was 1st and TMO came in 2nd.

It seems the best part of this whole thing is that people are forgetting that AT&T was already revved up about losing their roaming agreements with their largest GSM roaming partner in rural America, Alltel Wireless...

Hence the reason why VZW could post their new controversial 3G coverage map... AT&T really doesn't have the coverage after losing their roaming agreements.

AT&T is pissed, because their coverage is SHRINKING. lol.

Originally Posted by jpking

I'm not saying AT&T is so great, or that it's better than Verizon. Just stating my opinion of the difference in 3G speeds. AT&T does not have 3G coverage in the white areas on the map, but DOES have EDGE, which is just as fast as Verizon's 3G (GSM 3G is much faster than CDMA 3G). So AT&T's 3G is quite a bit faster, just not nearly as much coverage (as shown by the map). And yes, a big part of the reason why I'm with Verizon is because of the Storm (among other things). I had a couple iPhones with AT&T, but got frustrated with the fact that the phone is so locked down. Apple is waaayyy too strict on their permissions and what you can and CAN'T do with their phone. I've always been a BB fan. And yes, the Storm did suck when I first got it, but the hybrids on this site made it much more bearable, plus the freedom to actually be able to PUT these hybrids on, and do as I choose with my phone ...unlike Apple. I apologize if it sounded like I was bashing Verizon. Like I said, just stating my opinion on the 3G thing.

3G Speed ? CDMA vs GSM

Typical Average Speed - bps
CDMA Up Link Down Link
EVDO-A 450-850K 300-400K
EVDO-0 300-500K 60- 90K
1xRTT 60- 90K 60- 90K

GSM
HDSPA 500-800K 200-300K
UMTS 220-320K 220-320K
EDGE 70- 90K 50- 60K
GRPS 30- 50K 30- 50K

Theoretical Max Speed - bps
CDMA Up Link Down Link
EVDO-A 3.1M 1.8M
EVDO-0 2.4M 154K
1xRTT 154K 154K

GSM
HDSPA 1.8M 384K
UMTS 384K 384K
EDGE 236K 118K
GRPS 76K 76K

...I don't know, it seems like CDMA is the way of the future.