AT&T letter criticizes Verizon ad campaign

Open letter aims to 'set record straight' on AT&T's 3G network capabilities

By Matt Hamblen

November 13, 2009 03:56 PM ET

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Computerworld - AT&T today issued an open letter to its customers that it says "sets the record straight" about a recent Verizon Wireless TV advertising campaign boasting that Verizon has more areas of 3G coverage than AT&T.

AT&T has already filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the initial ad in the Verizon series is misleading. AT&T is seeking a temporary injunction to prevent that advertisement from airing along with unspecified financial damages. A hearing on the injunction is set for Nov. 18.

Today's AT&T letter calls the Verizon ads "blatantly false and misleading." It notes that AT&T's 3G wireless data coverage reaches 233 million people, or 75% of the U.S. population. It also notes that AT&T offers EDGE and GPRS networks, each serving more than 300 million people.

AT&T also says it has twice the number of smartphone customers as Verizon, with the most popular smartphones (without naming its most popular device, the iPhone), more wireless apps, and the top 3G speeds.

AT&T also allows voice communications simultaneously with surfing the Web and sending email, the carrier notes.

The letter includes a link to a coverage map.

Verizon could not be reached for comment today, but a spokeswoman previously said the first ad is accurate.

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