Filed under: Odds and ends, iPhone
AT&T and Verizon mutually drop lawsuits, customers rejoice
Both companies were looking pretty stupid, with half-baked attack ads and claims, counter claims and lawsuits that get lawyers rich and customers wondering if the money might be better spent.Anyway, the Wall Street Journal and others are reporting that:
AT&T Inc. (T) on Wednesday dismissed its lawsuit against Verizon Wireless and its recent "There's A Map For That" campaign.
AT&T had already suffered a legal setback when a judge rejected its request to pull the ads last month, which the Dallas carrier argued inaccurately suggested inferior network coverage. The court ruled that Verizon Wireless's ads, which showed maps comparing coverage, clearly talked about third-generation, or 3G, coverage.
Meanwhile, Digital Daily reports Verizon has dismissed a similar lawsuit against AT&T.
OK AT&T. How about using that found money to improve your network and customer service? Come on. You can do it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David owens said 2:09PM on 12-02-2009
ATT has supposedly spent billions upgrading their network, but where that money went is anybody's guess. My wife was happily mms-ing photos with her Verizon phone from the south rim of the grand canyon, while I was reading "unable to connect to server". ATT truly sucks the big one and always will. The largely empty big map is no joke. I love my iPhone, but hate ATT more. Love Verizon network, but they are a nickel and dime outfit and need an overhaul.
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mitch said 12:02PM on 12-16-2009
It would be nice if BOTH AT&T and Verizon stopped using foreign contractors to do the work that out-of-work US citizens could do. The recent postings about T-Mobile only scratch the surface. The Major players are always going for the lowest cost provider which means they are hiring firms with little or no experience. The big base of qualified US workers with experience is out there! The knowledge base of how to improve the network and ultimately the customer experience exists, just have the corporate conscience to do the right thing! In the long run - the benefit is clear!
jonathan ober said 2:06PM on 12-02-2009
Lawyers getting lots of money, yup...there's crApp for that...um...I mean an App for that.
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peterent said 2:15PM on 12-02-2009
Yes, AT&T - please use the money to fix your network and customer service. Last month I called them to report lousy DSL service (using my iPhone) and the techie said the call wasn't clear! I told her I was using AT&T and she should report the problem!
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BeyondtheTech said 2:38PM on 12-02-2009
Customers rejoice? Customers are still complaining. AT&T still comes in dead last. FIX IT, SETH!
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Seth said 2:45PM on 12-02-2009
The most damaging thing AT&T has done in this battle is refuse to discuss the 3G coverage issue at the center of the debate.
Verizon shows users that AT&T's 3G coverage sucks and AT&T is like "Liars! We have the FASTEST network!" - as if users don't know the difference between 'coverage' and 'speed'.
Speeds in areas not covered is 0 Mbps.
The latest one has AT&T being called up on the carpet for 3G coverage again and them replaying: "Liars! We have VERY LITTLE CHURN!"
?
AT&T marketing doesn't recognize how far spin goes - it only goes so far - its not unlimited in its ability to distract customers from the argument - if you push it past the limit it just makes things much worse.
At some point, even politicians know they have to abandon spin and "hang a lantern on their problem". AT&T just insists on completely ignoring their customers #1 complaint.
If AT&T doesn't consider their own 3G coverage inferior, then what do we as customers have to look forward to as far as them improving it?
I am totally psyched to get a Verizon iPhone, cant wait!
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ilkyone said 3:35PM on 12-02-2009
AT&T and Verizon were distracting the field with 3G issues so that nobody would notice Sprint has 4G.
The big two got what they wanted which is to get everyone talking about their 3G issues all the while defocusing Sprint's 4G.
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Themfk said 4:08PM on 12-02-2009
true enough. when the iphone goes beyond at&t, it will signal the downfall of at&t. sell your stock.
and use the money to buy AAPL.
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Brandon said 4:53PM on 12-02-2009
I see where At&t was going with their lawsuit, regardless of the fact that Verizon clearly states they are talking about 3g coverage. It's easy for non-technical people and the average cell phone user to see commercials like that and say "well verizon has way more coverage than at&t" when it makes no difference for making normal phone calls.
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exNewt said 8:10PM on 12-02-2009
I dunno, I have used the iPhone all over the US and world with no problems. For use in the States the ability to make a call while getting data pretty much is the reason to use an iPhone on ATT...
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Jake said 9:14PM on 12-02-2009
AT&T STILL does not have any service what-so-ever in Fargo, ND.... or the rest of North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.
No coverage = no point in getting an iPhone (which I would love).
So I got a Droid on Verizon, which has the best service and 3G coverage in ND, SD and MT.
Take that AT&T- you obviously don't want my money.
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mr_fastener said 8:31AM on 12-03-2009
Now maybe ATT &/or Apple can finally make VOIP on 3g a reality. And let's not forget about that tethering promise ATT!
BTW - Sprint is practically bankrupt and doesn't even own their network anymore. While they try desparately to position themseves as a 4g data carrier (VOIP anyone), you have got to wonder if they can make it happen before they run out of capital and customers.
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EXPERT said 10:59AM on 12-03-2009
4G IS A SPRINT EXCLUSIVE....GO AHEAD ARGUE ABOUT YOUR 3G SERVICE WHILE SPRINT ENJOYS 4G BWAHAHHAHAHAHAH
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Ed said 5:28PM on 12-06-2009
No "both" companies DIDNT look "pretty stupid." When Verizon came out with THEIR commercials they were doing nothing but telling the truth. AT&T's 3g coverage sucks. period. And thats the few places they even HAVE 3g coverage. At&t didnt like that fact that Verizon put them on front street by showing the map of their ACTUAL 3g coverage. So At&t files a lawsuit THEN comes out with their own commericials which were so DECEPTIVE im surprised they were even allowed by law to air them. In those commericals where the guy is standing on a map of the US throwing out post cards on places where they have coverage the guy fails to mention that most of those areas arent 3G coverage but just regular coverage. Its really hard to imaging any of you guys actually being att fan boys/girls so im going to chalk it up to your lapse in judgement being due to the iphone. That phone is so amazing I can see why someone would settle for the suckiest carrier out there. As soon as the Iphone is made non exclusive though im afraid at&t's days will be numbered as a wireless carrier.
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