The iPhone wars: AT&T vs. Verizon
Ma Bell strikes back with a letter, another lawsuit and its own coverage maps
The map that AT&T sent to the press. Source: AT&T
Claiming "irreparable harm," AT&T (T) has filed its second lawsuit in two weeks asking a U.S. District judge to force Verizon (VZ) to pull its new TV ads — cartoons that depict the iPhone as the latest arrival to the "island of misfit toys." The issue, once again: coverage maps that AT&T claims are "false" and "misleading."
On Thursday, AT&T followed up with a "set the record straight" letter reminding customers and the press that it, not Verizon, carries the "most popular smartphones" — i.e. Apple's (AAPL) iPhone — and that its customers, not Verizon's, have access to more than 100,000 applications.
The letter includes a link to the version of AT&T's coverage map — shown above — that the company thinks Verizon should be showing in its ads.
We're not so sure. Let's look a little closer at this map — and some others — below the fold.
Here are the two that triggered the lawsuits. They show Verizon's 3G coverage (red) next to AT&T's 3G coverage (blue).
Source: Verizon Wireless
AT&T takes strong and litigious objection to this comparison because, in the words of its lawyers, all that white space in the right-hand map "falsely communicates that AT&T does not have wireless data coverage throughout much of the United States." (Full text of the complaint is available here.)
According to AT&T, its wireless network actually reaches 303 million Americans — 97% of the population — if you include 3G, EDGE and GPRS. That's how they can justify drawing a map in which most of the country is painted blue.
But is that fair? AT&T's 3G service, when it works, is zippy enough. But EDGE (a 2.5G service) is considerably slower, and GPRS (2G) is slower still. A more accurate AT&T map would distinguish among the three services. You can get that from AT&T here, but it takes some effort (and a Photoshop session) to get one map that shows the entire lower 48 states. When the work is done, this is what it looks like:
Source: AT&T
Like Verizon's map, this one displays AT&T's 3G coverage in blue. And in fact, the correspondence between Verizon's blue splotches and AT&T's is pretty good.
But even that is somewhat misleading. If you drill down into AT&T's map of densely populated cities — say San Francisco and New York — you get the impression that the two metropolitan areas are swathed in 3G blue. See below:
Source: AT&T
But as anyone who relies on an iPhone in those cities can tell you, there are times of the day when an accurate map would look more like blue Swiss cheese, with big white holes in the business districts where you can't data or phone service.
If, as rumored, Verizon may be getting the iPhone in the next year or two, these maps — and those white holes — could mark the battle lines for a long drawn out war.
See also:
- Verizon vs. AT&T: There's a map for that
- Rumors: A Verizon iPhone in 2010
- AT&T Mobility is nipping at Verizon's heels
[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]
I love this battle, the maps are really great to look at, I'm on Verizon's side, I don't think they have misled anyone, AT&T simply is not strong enough. I don't actually have a Verizon phone but a prepaid Straight Talk phone that runs on Verizon's network so I know they are good.
http://keetaro.blogspot.com/2009/11/iphone-app-that-could-change-medicine.html
How iphone can change medicine !!
I work for ATT and I know that our coverage sucks and I know those Verizon ads are true. My personal cell phones are with Verizon and if the Iphone goes to Verizon that would be cool and would probably hurt ATT in the future but the phone isnt that great I love my Storm 2 and my Droid is pretty good but with the new browser for blackberry coming I'll probably ditch my droid. All in all ATT is ok but if your looking for coverage go with someone other then ATT.
ATT customer service is the WORST!! HORRID!! I promised to myself when I got OUT from under them I would NEVER go back! >>> Apple/Verizon … get it together because I want the IPhone >>> but now while ATT is the carrier!
@Rufus RE: The numbers don't lie
You are correct that VZ's stock is not doing as well as ATT, but your argument is misleading…Verizon only owns 52% of Verizon Wireless, the other 48% owned by Vodaphone in Europe. It is legally named Cellco Partnership, so the full benefit of the cash cow that is Verizon Wireless is not fully realized by Verizon Telco…financially speaking not so good for the landline folks, but in terms of giving the wireless business unit the freedom to manage their business the way they see fit, it's a great deal.
It allowed the creation of the map which is the root of this discussion.
I have wanted an iPhone for a long while, but AT&T's 3G coverage is spotty in my area due to the mountains they say. Even if Verizon gets the iPhone I won't switch b/c Verizon Family Plans are over-priced. In my area US Cellular is 3G and it works great and the plans are reasonable.
So basically AT&T was unprepared for the success of the iPhone. I sense a change on the horizon from Apple in their lop sided relationship with AT&T.
Anyone how uses AT&T should be burned at the stake……Yea you have an IPhone but what good is it if your service is spotty? While you trying to look kool i'm making and recieving call & email and you have no bars!!!
I ditched my iPhone 3G over the weekend because of AT&T. Their network sucks. The last 14 months has been nothing but dropped calls, calls that never ring the phone, voice mails that arrive 35+ minutes after they've been left, and horrible 3G speeds. Honestly they're lucky I lasted 14 months.
Now using a Droid on Verizon. It's like night and day for calls. Calls are clearer and 3G speeds are visibly faster. My iPhone is now nothing but an iPod touch. It's a good device just held back by AT&T and Apple's iron fist.
It is 4:15 pm in NY and I went from 5 bars to 1 bar due to network congestion. Thank God I have WiFi or my BB Bold would be a brick.
I went on my own, ATT's website won't let you veiw a national coverage map with the 3G areas highlighted. That's pretty shady business if you ask me. Verizon's ads can not be defamatory if the speak the truth. The map on the comercials are almost-if no identical- to the 3G coverage areas. And since the ATT map on the Vz commercial is labeled as ATT 3G coverage, there is nothing false. If High speed access is what you want, Sprint and VZ are the best. ATT wins in customer service. And TMobile is left to limp back to Europe. My suggestion? ATT should start gearing up for a takeover of Sprint-Nextel, if they truely want to compete with Vz.
Everyone knows that Verizon has the best network. I never drop calls since I switched to Verizon. Face the facts you ATT&T loosers………
to "anonymous" poster who posted, "I have an iphone and I prefer AT&T": How much ATT stock do you own? obviously an SBC employee, go figure!
hahahahahahahha. am not a fan of either companies for personal reasons. but business AT&T is better and way better. mathmatics proves everything that all you people with a mere silly opinion say.
AT&T earnings killed verizons. where was the map then??? apparently not attractive enough
AT&Ts market cap is almost twice as much as verizons????
whats verizon doing for their shareholders???
\numbers dont lie and the truth is those numbers speak louder than all of you talkers and talkers
It sounds like AT&T communications division posted 32 comments. Bottom line is this: I loveD my IPhone. I even bought my daughter one. When I walked into my store which is dead in the AT&T "Red Zone" of coverage, the phone would go dead! It worked great when I was back into town.
I switched to Verizon and sold my two IPhones on EBay! I would buy one in a nanosecond if I had the coverage in my store! Eagerly awaiting the transition here!
Nobody is perfect and you can be in a good coverage area and still drop calls and have slow or no voice \ data
connection due limitations that affect any wireless devices (radios tv's satellites) true with any carrier but ATT is just mad cuz Verizon has them in a corner the map in the comercial clearly states the difference in the "3G coverage" only. This ad is only misleading if u as a consumer doesnt know the difference between voice and data. If ATT thinks its wrong than go beyond Verizon and demand every add comparing 2 products be stopped based someones lack of knowledge. but here is the real rub for me ATT says the ad is misleading ok fine for the sake of fareness pull it. and ATT should have to pull there own miss leading add of "more bars more places" bcuz u might have full bars but still cant place calls due to network congestion. ex.(its like being in Manhatten by all the restuarant but u cant eat bcuz there all full) and its not just ATT that goes for Tmobile and any company that uses GSM \ Verizon uses CDMA look the two technologies on your own to see pros and cons of each. PS there is so much more to say but its too crazy so for now i will leave yall with this. The iphone is a very nice phone but it bites compared to my BlackBerry Storm and i will post explaining that one too. its been real hope yall enjoy
I wish AT&T would stop their whining…Verizon is getting ready to be the FASTEST wireless service out there and with the iphone coming to Verizon in 2010 according to the articles on here …BYE BYE AT&T go cry to someone else about your LACK of coverage and your LYING to your customers.
First, Verizon was offered the iPhone by Steve Jobs before they went to ATT. Verizon turned it down. Thats called a major league "OOPS". If you are a verizon user and you want an iPhone, thank your verizon management team.
Second, you should not be running your smart phone in the car while you drive. Go find a coffee shop, etc., with free WiFi. Become a very happy iPhone user. WiFi smokes 3G. Period. And WiFi coverage is growing every day.
The best part is that the Map ATT is so ticked about is actually their map. VZ used what ATT had published. Good luck winning that one T…lol
Edge is not 3G. Verizon's maps indicated their 3G service versus AT&T's 3G service. These sort of shenanigans from AT&T is why I left them.
If both AT&T and Verizon had the same handsets, Verizon would win hands down. If the iphone was available on both networks, I can without a doubt say that those on Verizon would have a better experience using it.
During the inauguration last year, when cell towers were congested, I could not make a call for over 5 hours. My wife's Verizon phone did not miss a beat. Same deal this summer while holidaying in the outer banks.
To all you who have the iphone and love it, good for you thats great!But I notice that most of you live in areas that are somewhat flat or not so densly populated which no matter what the experts tell you makes a difference. If and when the iphone comes to verzion you should buy stock cause the price is gonna skyrocket just from the purchases in the northeast alone…..
I have an iPhone and I love it. I live in a metropolitan area, so I also get service. I think the thing people are forgetting is that neither of these companies are perfect…never will be either. Despite excellent coverage most places with ATT, I can go 5 miles down the road and get No Service.
However, Verizon likes to say they're so much better. Maybe that's true, but if you have Verizon and you're at my house (again, metro area), guess what? You're out of luck because you don't get a signal.
Call ATT's map swiss cheese or whatever metaphor…I know it's true. But don't think that Verizon's is all that either.
I live in Mid-Hudson Valley, NY everyone I know around here who tried the iphone with AT&T had to return it because service is so bad. I rarely see anyone around here with an iphone. The map above makes it look like we have AT&T service but I am telling you that is wrong. I have verizon blackberrry but would love iphone and am anxiously waiting for verizon to get the iphone and so are a lot of other people around here!!!!
Someone please listen;
This is the United States of America in the year 2009. Verizon and AT&T are bickering like DEMS and RPUBS. There are plenty other companies that are acting like little kids but today I am referencing VER and AT&T.
It is a Tradgedy that Americans cant just buy a phone of liking and get service of liking. Companies continue to put a
"Political/Business" spin on all technology items that customers use. When are we going to do what's best for the customer and not the company?
v/r
American tired of the games being played by Lawyers and Businesses
I've had and iPhone for over 2 years now. I live about 50 miles from Chicago and have AT&T and the service is just fine. I know in my area Verizon service is good too but they DON'T have the iPhone. It seems in life everything has good and bad. For all of you Verizon lovers you just keep using your OTHER phones and us iPhone users will just have to be happy with AT&T. Verizon's network cannot handle the iPhone data usage and if you take the data usage away then you might as well not have an iPhone. So just stick with your Blackbery Storms or whatever Verizon is trying to sell these days and when it comes to surfing the web – use your laptops.
The funny thing is, the VZ ads are about "3G" coverage, yet VZ's "3G" capacity appears to be more limited (lower speed pipe at higher price shared across more subscribers per each VZ larger cell). And the actual AT&T complaints are almost never about data coverage; they are about dropped or unavailable voice calls, which don't need 3G at all.
VZ seems to be falling behind AT&T in capacity to provide data service, despite being perceived "better" in recent years through bigger cells protected by contractual inhibition of data use for most subscribers.
The map that AT&T provides are very straight toward. I am a 3g iPhone user and my area is covered with 3g. The 3g is nice and very fast while verizon is slow. AT&T does offer good quality sound and yes calling and surf the web. Verizon has a cheap 3g and can't do nothing . Even though you get verizon network at schools or even under tunnels it doesn't compare to barly having service in middle of the city . Where in fact AT&T has full coverage of 3g.
I just moved from ATT to Verizon because of this very thing. ATT plasters ads all over the place about 3G service and I been on their server here in Northeast Arkansas since 1999 with promises of better and faster service every couple of years. The truth is the network has NEVER been upgraded, it still drops calls in the same places, there is no published plans than anyone knows about for 3G. It is crazy to stay with them with nothing but lies lies lies.
First Verizon is being dishonest in the ads and that is a fact. All the Verizon apologist will soon get a wakeup call when they start adding REAL smartphones to their network and their customer are allowed to use data. The iPhone isn't a "phone" is a computer and even casual users eat up bandwidth. Verizon hasn’t faced that challenge because they don’t allow and don’t have the demand.
For people that say that they have AT&T coverage with their device but it is un-usable – for goodness sake go find another carrier. That is one of the stupidest things I read (mostly in BLOGS) – if it doesn’t work switch, at least AT&T will have you pay 175.00 termination fee versus Verizon NEW 350.00 fee on smartphones.
Last comment – if find it funny that some of the folks on here comment on the accuracy of the map. For example ALEX in DALLAS says "VZ's map is accurate in my experience". Really Alex – you been around the entire US and conduct the research???? Laughable.
Can’t wait for Verizon to add a couple of million of smartphones – same people here complaining about AT&T will be complaining about Verizon…
The shame of it is that Verizon resorted to a desperation tactic in these new adds. They could have easily made a bigger point going with a network quality message rather then using network size. This one could really come back to haunt them being that thier network is not truely 3G. Simultaneous voice and data are the true standard of what is defined as a 3G network. They do not have this ability also the data speeds thier network produces is slower then a true 3G network,although it is faster then the AT&T Edge network it is more accuratley as 2.75 network. The term 3G has become so generic these days and the consumer really doesn't even know what it means, it has become almost only an advertising ploy. If Verizon had gone with a network quality add rather then a 3G map add there would be no issues. The fact is AT&T is truely 3G Verizon is not.
It comes as no surprise that these ads started to run after each company announced their third quarter numbers.
I have an iphone 3G and I do not use cellular data at all, because I don't like to pay $30 to anyone (cellular carrier) for dial up service, if you know what I mean. If I travel I plan ahead. At the end of the 2 year contract I have saved $30×24 mo. = $720.00 without the data service. Imagine paying about 200 dollars for a smartphone in the beginning, by the end of the 2 year country you would have paid about $920. I wish that we could all boycott data services until cellular companies drop the price to about $5 dollars per month, data service is very slow why would anyone want to pay $30 dollars per month for data service with such a low quality. Cellular carriers are no idiots.
I think AT&T custumers should sue ,because thay all have been paying on contract for speeds & service's that are well lets say less than adequate…for the phones they offer!
I've had AT&T for over ten years. The service was outstanding on old TDMA network. As soon as I upgraded to the GSM network, it's been downhill ever since. The iPhone is the only thing keeping with AT&T. It's definitely overpriced. I do have to agree that other carriers would more than likely experience the same type of slow data issues with the iPhone. I just want Apple to free the iPhone from bondage & give subscribers a choice. Thanks!
I just spent 4 nights in downtown SF and 2 in Carmel and had no trouble using my iPhone for voice or data. Even used ATT's GPS Navigator app to drive up to Sonoma and Napa and only lost all connectivity once in an area hidden behind a mountain near the Golden Gate Bridge. I switched from Verizon 2 years ago (who I still do believe has a better network), but overall have been OK with ATTs service of recent.
I can't wait for apple to make a verizon iphone so all you whine bags can take your tear dripping faces to verizon. The iphone is ahead of the game on so many levels that it can slow down any network. I got a solution for you whinos, wipe your tears this is a good one; If you get a dropped call- call back. Woah! too simple right?!
Hey AT&T, you guys are great. Keep up the good work. Apple; the iphone is even better when you make it ra1n.
I can't see what ground AT&T has in their lawsuit to Verizon. I have checked and double checked every Verizon ads in question and every one of them has clearly indicated that the map was for the 3G coverage. There is no misrepresentation anyway.
Instead of suing Verizon, they should simply spend their efforts and money by making their own ads showing Verizon's issues and pointing their own strengths as how Verizon's network cannot use the voice and data at the same time as well as the fact that iPhone on AT&T offers more mobile apps than all the other wireless companies combined.
Apple and Microsoft had been doing these jabs and counter jabs for awhile now; so AT&T just has to learn how to play the game instead of just crying and call your mommy. Grow up!
Philip – Do you have any idea why S.F. and N.Y. have so many issues – imagine what happens to AT&T's network when thousands or millions of iPhone users are surfing the net or watching youtube videos at the same time – it pushes the network to its limits and it would be no different with Verizon if they had the iPhone. I'll spare you the tech jargon but one youtube video takes up as much network capacity as one voice call. Verizon's network would experience the same issues if they had as many smartphones operating on its network. By the way, AT&T currently has more smartphones operating on its network than Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint combined.
If anything, ATT customers should be filing a class action lawsuit for not providing the coverage they claim to provide; VZ's map is accurate in my experience.
Verizon's depiction of the maps is correct. However, what this article fails to mention is that AT&T's 3G coverage is more than twice as fast as Verizon's and AT&T's 2.5G coverage is almost as fast as Verizon's 3G coverage. When AT&T completes its upgrade, it will nearly 4x as fast as Verizon. This is a case of comparing different networks that have decidedly different speeds.
Everyone points to the iPhone being slow or having bad coverage on AT&T's network, but that's only because iPhone users use so much more data than any other smart phone users. If the iPhone were on Verizon's much slower network, it is questionable whether the iPhone would even function in the same capacity. The iPhone is simply ahead of the capabilities of any network at this time.
AT&T is almost unusable in SF. Selling more iPhones and contracts here is criminal. Can anyone say "class action lawsuit"?
Ditto to Ken. I live in saint Paul mn, a major metro area that AT&T has marked as completely covered by 3G. I have had AT&T for over a year now with 2 iPhones. Prior to that I had verizon for 3 yrs and sprint for 5 years before that. Albeit the area I live in is geographcally challenging for cell coverage. There are a lot of steep hills as I live in the Mississippi river valley. Verizons coverage was by far the best. Very rarely dropped calls, 3G data nearly everywhere, great customer support. AT&T takes 2nd in my opinion. Dropped calls daily, network too busy sometimes, 3G coverage about 70% of the time, and decent customer service. Sprint was atrocious. I had terribly spotty coverage, virtually no data (3G didn't exist yet), constantly dropping calls, by far the worst customer service experience I have ever had in my life.
I was very happy with verizon. I waited for 2 yrs on rumors of them getting the iPhone. I finally broke down and switched. Even though AT&Ts service is considerably worse, I am happy with my decision. I use my iPhone constantly. Web browsing Is by far better than any other mobile device I've used. I own and use many apps on a regular basis. It keeps getting better an more useful with each os update.
In a perfect world, I'd have verizon for the service provider on my iPhone. If they ever do carry the iPhone I will certainly switch back. Until then I'll take the crappy service with a great phone, and I'll use that to leverage my contract. Paying a little less each month as long as calls continue to drop and networks remain busy in areas that they claim I should have excellent coverage.
Everyone seems to ignore that Verizon has plenty of dead spits too. It all has to do with where you live. Where I live, AT&T does not have 3G but it does have solid voice coverage and very slow edge data. Major cities an hour from here in 3 different directions all have 3g which work nice. Verizon coverage is non existant in rural areas and spotty in the major cities here. The "can you hear me now ads" are a joke here because you'll constantly be asking that if you choose verizon. I'm confused by the media's hate of AT&T and love of verizon. It's all in where you live. Every carrier has poor coverage areas.
From very personal experience, AT&T Sucks and is sucking more every day. Increasing dropped calls, way over priced services, more dropped calls , spotty coverage. Sad part is this is in the Silicon Valley. Either they get their act together or if Verizon gets the iPhone, I'm gone, along with my other 2 iPhones.
As a person who lives in a big white spot in Eastern New Mexico, I can vouch for Verizon's map as opposed to AT&T's. 3G in this part of the country does not exist. Doesn't matter, iPhone or Droid, no coverage. Only chance is that Verizon bought Alltel (local carrier) and we could get 3G coverage eventually because our part of the network got kept by Verizon. It comes close but not quite yet. AT&T has minimal coverage in this area and dropped calls are routine on their network here.
The map at the top of this article needs to be marked: "*NOT* a 3G map".
I think we should let Verizon accurately show a 3G map. And let some AT&T commercials show a "non-3G" map.
Everyone is honest.
AT&T is great if you live near or spand the vast majority of youre time in a Big City like over 100,000 pple but for anybody who lives in the country They are not fair to u and they will terminate ur contract even for paying customers who have done nothing wrong!!! I HATE AT&T LOVE THE IPHONE!