AT&T Finally Joins the Ad-War With Verizon
Unless you live under a rock or have not turned on the magic box in your living room for some time, then you have more than likely seen the new-advertising war that has been taking over the airways between wireless communication giants, AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ).
Verizon fired the first shot across the bow with several ads stating the things that AT&T's flagship device, the Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone, cannot do. The campaign has become known as the iDont commercials which were a promotion for the new Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Droid phone that is an exclusive to the Verizon network. The Droid is the latest on the list of wannabe iPhone killers.
The onslaught continued with the now well-known "there's a map for that" ads that pointed out the limited 3G coverage of the AT&T network, compared to the superior experience customers can receive through Verizon.
In a particularly witty attack, Verizon placed the iPhone on the famous "Island of Misfit Toys" from the beloved Rank and Bass Christmas movie "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The ad brilliantly points out that even thought the device is destined for greatness, it is crippled by the lacking coverage of AT&T.
This move led to a lawsuit filed by AT&T stating that the Verizon ads were "misleading." The temporary injunction that AT&T was seeking was denied by an Atlanta judge on Wednesday.
After running to the teacher like a tattle-tale, AT&T has now mustered up some courage, calling on Luke Wilson to spearhead a campaign of its own. Wilson points out some of the bright spots of the AT&T network, including having the fastest 3G network (where coverage applies), the ability to chat and surf the web, and the company's exclusive rights to Apple's iPhone.
After pointing out the high-water marks of AT&T, Wilson makes a comment about Verizon that has all the wit of a third-grader in an attempt to insult Verizon.
In the end AT&T is doing what they should have done in the first place by fighting back; however the ads could most definitely use a little more thought behind them.
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