AT&T Sets the Record Straight, Calls Verizon Ads: Blatantly False and Misleading – read the official response!

After taking it on the chin from Verizon in a few not so nice commercials, AT&T took Verizon to court to get them to pull the T.V. and print ads. Even with threats of  lawsuits, Verizon contuines to go after AT&T without mercy and it’s flagship phone, the iPhone, in a steady stream of campaign ads. AT&T has finally decided to take it to the court of public opinion in an offical response to the negative ad campaigns and even posts what they call “the Real AT&T Map”. Here’s their official release:    

 To Our Customers:

As the U.S. market leader in wireless data service, we typically don’t respond to competitors’ advertising. However, some recent ads from Verizon are so blatantly false and misleading, that we want to set the record straight about AT&T’s wireless data coverage.

The key facts are:

• AT&T’s wireless data coverage reaches 303 million people – or 97% of the U.S. population, where they live and work. Our data coverage consists of 3 different types of technology:
  • 3G. 233 million people or 75% of the population are covered by AT&T’s 3G network, the nation’s fastest.
  • EDGE. 301 million people or more than 96% of the population are covered by EDGE.
    • With both 3G and EDGE coverage, customers can access the Internet, send e-mail, surf the Web, stream music, download videos, send photos, text, talk and more. The only difference – with some data applications, 3G is faster than EDGE
  • GPRS. Covers 303 million people, allowing you to talk, text, e-mail and access basic websites optimized for wireless.

AT&T is the #1 network for smartphones, with twice the number of smartphone customers than Verizon, our closest competitor. Some of the reasons include:

Most popular smartphones. Unlike Verizon, AT&T offers the most popular smartphones in the industry.

More wireless apps. Unlike Verizon, AT&T customers have access to more than 100,000 applications, more than with any other wireless company.

Talk and E-mail at the same time. Unlike Verizon, AT&T’s 3G network lets wireless customers simultaneously talk and surf the web or do e-mail.

Fastest 3G in the nation. Unlike Verizon, AT&T has the nation’s fastest 3G network.

It looks as if the war of words and maps is far from over.  Do you think Verizon’s claim about AT&T’s coverage and service is true?

Click here to read AT&T’s official press release and see their map.