New AT&T iPhone ad re-touts ability to "talk and surf" simultaneously
After several years as the exclusive carrier of the iPhone, AT&T has been seeing some competition from Verizon (and soon, rumor has it, Sprint). In its latest network television advertisement, AT&T uses a family-oriented theme to point out one major advantage the GSM carrier has over its CDMA competitors -- the ability to make a phone call and use data at the same time. This is the same theme AT&T has hit in previous ads about a forgetful husband and a music-trivia mistake.
The current implementation of Verizon's and Sprint's CDMA network prevents users from using data while on a phone call. If you're on the phone and want to look up a web page, you have to end your phone call before you can pull down the website data.
It's an issue that polarizes some iPhone users. Many Verizon customers claim they don't need to surf and call at the same time (after all, they've never had the capability with other phones, so why should it bother them?), while some AT&T customers cite this ability as the primary reason they stay with the sometimes fickle network of AT&T.
[Via Edible Apple]
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After several years as the exclusive carrier of the iPhone, AT&T has been seeing some competition from Verizon (and soon, rumor...
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i don't know what people are talking about... i have NEVER lost a call or had issues with at&t's network. i live in nyc, and travel about. get over it people!
and i still have UNLIMITED data, thank you at&t!!
What's the use to be able to do both simultaneously when you can't even do either on a crappy nOtwork.
September 13 2011 at 12:36 PM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down ReplyIn all the commercials, the setting is in a place where 99% of people have wifi. Home, work, coffee house.
ALL of those places you would probably be on WiFi as well, especially since the iPhone has ridiculous built in data caps.
Good point Michael, not many people know that you CAN talk (via the wireless network carrier) and surf the internet (via wifi) at the same time. And as stated, the commerical with the man in the baby's room, I thought the same thing, just use wifi. Although it is still "better" that you can talk and surf via the wireless carrier network, it is not a feature that most people use a lot. I think coverage and quality of coverage is a lot more important, sorry AT&T, lol.
September 13 2011 at 10:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI wonder what ever happened to Verizon's Voice over Rev A (VoRA)? I haven't heard a peep about it since it was mentioned on engadget well over a year ago..
September 12 2011 at 5:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyProbably trying to head off any excitement about the possibility that Sprint may offer unlimited data for the iPhone 5.
September 12 2011 at 3:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhat the hell is the matter with AT&T's ad agency? All men in this campaign are idiots: first clumso forgets his wedding anniversary and tumbles out of his office while talking to his mean wife. Then the guy who derps at the flash mob. Then the troll at the dinner who can't get his facts straight (and gets mean looks from the female waiter). Now this, bad dad getting scolded by perfect wife-mom.
And of course, the one ad where there is a woman, she's showered in prizes from all sorts of contests because she can research the right answers while talking on the phone.
AT&T, you deserve a big F-Off from men around America for your sexist ads.
the flash mob one is by the far the stupidest one ever, seriously what does it matter no way that a text message is recieved faster on AT&T than on another carrier, if it was data such as a message on fb or something well thats different
September 12 2011 at 7:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI agree. In our PC society, it acceptable to bash men in commercials (Verizon), sitcoms, and the like. PC producers rarely or never dare make women, Muslims, minorities, and so on look foolish like they make "stereotypical" white males do. As for why? I haven't a clue.
September 12 2011 at 7:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAT&T will have to milk this while they can because it's going to be rendered moot before too long. Keep in mind that Verizon's LTE network, which has been building and expanding extremely rapidly, is completely capable of talk and surf.
September 12 2011 at 3:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOnce voice-over-LTE is rolled out there will no longer be a distinction between a voice call and a data call. VoLTE is essentially VoIP, so all calls will use data.
September 12 2011 at 3:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGreat point, but that's what they do ;)
September 12 2011 at 3:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI suppose usage patterns have a lot to do with where you live and work. I live and work in an area of the US that has a average population of 40 people per square mile. AT&T does not offer 3G coverage so talk and surf is a moot point. 25% of the US population is living under the same restrictions I am; so for us "talk and surf" is simply not an option.
September 12 2011 at 3:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyClarity: GSM DOESN'T support talk and surf... UMTS/3G and LTE do. So if you do fallback to 2/2.5G-EDGE/GPRS you will either exhibit suspension of data or calls will divert to voicemail (depending on phone sw)
September 12 2011 at 3:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhen people say GSM they are usually referring to the "GSM family", which LTE is part of, not pure GSM. But I guess you know that...
September 12 2011 at 6:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhat I think they fail to note is that Verizon iPhone users can very happily talk & surf simultaneously if they are connected to wifi... which this dad, in his home, almost certainly is. I know I, for one, almost never make calls when I'm out of my home or office - I used to call people for directions, but my iPhone makes that unnecessary now! - so this is a nonissue.
September 12 2011 at 2:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's been a huge issue for me when I travel. In a 30m cab ride to the airport or hotel, I can check email, attend calls, make notes, make sure my cabbie is going the right way, etc... Most cabs don't have wifi.
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