Comments on: AT&T launches its own sad retort to Verizon’s ads

By: pacobell

pacobell — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:38:22 +0000

Also, the fact that EDGE, the lion’s share of AT&T’s data network, can’t do simultaneous voice and data either speaks more to AT&T’s hypocrisy than anything else.

By: AT&T and Verizon make amends for the holidays - Marc Flores - Digitalia - True/Slant

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:39:09 +0000

[...] they should be fixing their networks instead. AT&T initially tried to sue Verizon for its “There’s a map for that” ads, claiming that the ads were deceiving customers into believing that AT&T had little to no [...]

By: Marc Flores - Digitalia – Apple defends AT&T better than AT&T defends itself - True/Slant

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:37:01 +0000

[...] we’ve now seen AT&T’s attempt at striking back at Verizon’s ad campaign, I thought it would be appropriate to show you Apple’s own take on this whole advertising [...]

By: Instead of fixing its own network, AT&T decides to allocate its resources for an ad campaign of its own as a response to Verizon’s hilarious 3G ads | Mobile Phone Downloads Blog

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:29:38 +0000

[...] hilarious 3G ads November 23rd, 2009 | Tags: submitted by diesel828 [link] [190 comments] Read Full Story from Reddit Technology. Leave a comment Related Posts & [...]

By: Marc Flores

Marc Flores — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:29:21 +0000

You’re absolutely right. I think that the carriers are mixing up its targets – consumers or techies? I just wrote a post on Boy Genius Report that shows how it should be done when targeting the consumers. As always, Apple (who would have known it would step in?) does it right.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/11/23/apple-backs-up-atts-ad-campaign-launches-two-commercials-tonight/

By: mgmtnow

mgmtnow — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:24:48 +0000

I’d counter that their advertising is hitting its mark. I see a difference in the audiences that these two carriers are attempting to attract right now.

Verizon’s ads highlighted by the “Droid Does” & “A Map for That” advertising are targeting highly technical people who are looking to heavily use the features of their phone, and demand high performance.

AT&T is focusing on the more mainstream user who may use some of the functionality, but isn’t considered a tech-savvy heavy user.

Part of the reason for this targeting maybe because AT&T already feels they’ve locked up the techie market with the iPhone, or that they understand these heavy users are what is killing their network in the areas you mentioned in your post.

If you want to check my take on the commercials: http://mgmtnow.com/carrier-ad-wars/

I’d guess people like yourself or the editors at Engadget would fall into the demographic Verizon is targeting, so its no coincidence those ads resonate with you while AT&T’s seem off.

By: Marc Flores

Marc Flores — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:12:16 +0000

I agree that AT&T shouldn’t just ignore Verizon’s ad campaign and that it should play up what little strengths it has at this point. However, AT&T’s new commercials seem a little flat and uninteresting when directly compared to Verizon’s attack ads. Here’s a nice editorial piece from Engadget that sums up how I feel about the Verizon/AT&T madness:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/editorial-hey-atandt-drop-lawsuits-not-calls/

By: mgmtnow

mgmtnow — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:57:41 +0000

While I agree with your technological assessment of AT&T’s product given the saturation they’re experiencing with the iPhone on their networks. I disagree with your assessment of the effectiveness of the AT&T ads.

Its also naive to think a business should completely ignore an aggressive marketing attack by a competitor and pour all resources into the product. Unfortunately, sometimes in business you have to sell what you have even if you’re at a disadvantage.

By: Tech News November 23, 2009 | The Contemplation

Tech News November 23, 2009 | The Contemplation — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:30:49 +0000

[...] AT&T Makes Poor Decisions Instead of spending money and expanding, updating and creating a stronger better infrastructure, AT&T decides to spend money on Ads defending poor infrastructure. AT&T has over 1,000 apps but a small 3G network and limited bandwidth. But Verizon can’t tell people via commercial. It confuses users. Bottom line, AT&T is not going to make a better AT&T system. Each commercial put out by AT&T is a raise in wireless fees and one less dollar to expand 3G network. (read more . . .) [...]

By: Marc Flores

Marc Flores — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:18:10 +0000

Thanks for the heads up, everybody. I got the Wilson brothers confused and corrected it!