Latest Verizon/AT&T Commercials
Ever since I realized how much advertisers had to tell the truth in their advertisements, or risk being sued, and what not, I’ve tended to take a closer look at what they’re saying in their commercials.
I’ve really paid attention to the LANGUAGE, and compared them to their competitor.
Case in point is the latest Verizon and AT&T Commercials that discuss the coverage of their respective networks, and how they try to compare themselves to each other.
Verizon for instance has a string of commercials out there lately that have been bragging about the size of their 3G coverage versus AT&T. Apparently my idea of AT&T being a great network in terms of 3G was false, but at the same time, as a typical cell phone user that doesn’t travel the United States that often, or to that many destinations, a fuller map really doesn’t make a difference to me. I have great 3G coverage here in Tampa, and I get decent coverage in MA. My hometown in Massachusetts doesn’t quite have 3G coverage, but closer to Boston, as I tend to be when I’m on vacation there these days, has plenty, as far as I can tell.
So really, as long as I have great 3G coverage where I need it, why would I care if it’s everywhere else, where I don’t, or won’t, ever need it?
Well, back to the subject, because of the string of Verizon commercials attacking AT&T coverage, AT&T takes an effort to counter, and have a recent string of advertisements that say “Verizon is lying and we want to set the record straight. We have the greatest coverage in the US”.
Sadly, I can’t find that commercial on youtube easily to share.
But immediately I picked up on something: AT&T does not mention 3G anywhere in their new commercial! They’re tricking users to believe that they’re simply countering the 3G argument with the “truth” (and a larger, more complete map), but in reality they’re trying to compensate for their obvious lack of 3G coverage vs Verizon, and hoping viewers don’t pick up on this little nuance.
Don’t even get me started on Sprint. They say they have the nation’s largest 3G network, and the country’s first 4G network. If they’re so amazing, why the hell do they not have a leg up on Verizon and AT&T? And what is this 4G anyways, and if it’s so amazing, why aren’t the new smart touch-phones taking advantage of this?
I kind of feel like I’m alone in this, pointing out the nuances of advertisements. Then again, people tend to notice the lies in commercials pretty damn fast, and point them out immediately. But only the lies. AT&T didn’t lie about their coverage being greater than Verizon…. OVERALL coverage. However, their 3G coverage (according to the verizon commercials) is apparently SEVERELY lacking.
The Verizon commercials are a farce. AT&T purposely shut parts of their 3G network down last year in an effort to build their network back up. They couldn’t do this while having the entire network active. When it is all said and done, AT&T will have 3G coverage in 99% of the country. This will take place early next year.
Verizon on the other hand is doing squat to improve their network, and Sprint, if they have the first 4G network are doing a poor job in promoting what should be faster than 3G speeds.
Sprint has also done nothing but drop the ball with the release of the Palm Pre. What should have received the attention of the iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, etc. received little to no press at all. Dumb move by a company that has always been playing catch up.