AT&T Files Suit against Verizon over “Map” ads

There’s a map for that. That’s the catch phrase that Verizon is mimicking from Apple’s “There’s an app for that” campaign. In this case, it’s a little different, referencing it’s large 3G coverage network. The kicker is that it uses the above graphic to compare itself to AT&T. The commercial shows a person losing their connection on their cellphone to what is most likely data and voice services all the while the person next to them is using their phone just fine, albeit with a Verizon handset. AT&T is filing suit saying that the commercial is misleading the public into thinking AT&T’s network is extremely small and coverage is spotty.

Well, Verizon’s network is extremely huge and is mostly 3G, so I can give in to their huge network map. AT&T’s 3G network may not be as big, but their 2G coverage is humongous and the ad definitely singles out 3G service only. This definitely is selective marketing as Verizon makes it seem like 3G service is the only way the carriers give service. Being on AT&T myself, I know that their 3G service is not available everywhere, but I can continue making calls and still access data while in a 2G EDGE zone. Verizon is claiming they were explicit in their ads that it’s only 3G coverage they are comparing, but the implications to the public are obvious. We’ll have to see how this suit pans out. I think Verizon is going to have to pull this ad, worse comes to worse they’ll have to change it somehow to make the comparison with AT&T less selective.