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AT&T Sues Verizon Over "Map For That" Ads

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the sue-sue-sudio dept.

MahlonS writes "AP is reporting on a suit filed in Northern Georgia in which AT&T claims that Verizon's 'There's a Map for That' ads are misleading and amount to deceptive trade practices. Verizon had already agreed to modify their original ad to include a tag line that voice and data services are available outside 3G coverage areas." What's interesting is that on some level, this is actually a lawsuit over data visualization.

4 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. I'm not seeing it. by Paranatural · · Score: 5, Informative

    It even said in the FA that they were maps of the 3G coverage. As long as the maps are accurate, I can't see what they are complaining about. Nowhere is it implied that the normal service is limited to those same maps.

    A case of sour grapes by AT&T.

    Maybe if they'd use some of that iPhone money to expand their infrastructure instead of hiring lawyers and racking up executive bonuses...but nah, that's crazy talk.

    1. Re:I'm not seeing it. by pcaylor · · Score: 5, Informative

      The maps are accurate but Verizon originally referred to the areas without 3G coverage as 'Out of Touch' That sounds a lot worse than 'falling back to 2G EDGE' Verizon has agreed to remove the 'Out of Touch' phrasing though. AT&T wants Verizon to show their full data coverage map without distinction between EDGE and 3G. And on such trivialities, lawyers get rich.

  2. Re:Good by syrinx · · Score: 5, Funny

    That would be inappropriate, as thyme is an herb, not a spice. :P

    --
    Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
  3. Re:Good by ran-o-matic · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is not true. That red map is the VZW 3G (EVDO and not just 1xRTT) network just as they claim. They have basically upgraded their entire network to EVDO.