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AT&T Rivals Pounce on iPhone Glitches

Dropped calls ring up a marketing opportunity for other networks

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 29, 2008 4:48 AM CDT

(Newser) – Glitches have plagued the new iPhone since its release and AT&T's rivals are gleefully capitalizing on customers' griping, the New York Times reports. It's still unclear whether Apple or the wireless network is to blame, but companies like Verizon aren't letting the opportunity slip by. “A phone is only as good as the network it’s on," crows one Verizon ad.

Consumers complain that Apple and AT&T have failed to clarify which party is responsible for the dropped calls and other problems that have triggered complaints. The relationship between the two firms seems to be getting rockier as problems continue. As wireless networks rarely inspire the kind of brand loyalty seen among Apple customers, the stakes are higher for AT&T.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (3)]

A potential customer peeks in the windows of an AT&T store. (AP Photo/Alex Boerner, The Stuart News)

A pedestrian walks past a Verizon wireless store in Union Square in New York earlier this summer. (AP Photo/Jin Lee, file)

An older Apple iPhone is shown next to an advertisement for the new iPhone 3G at an AT&T store in Palo Alto, Calif., last month. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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It’s hard to launch an iconic device like the iPhone on a network that it is not yet fully deployed. As they build these networks they will need to make more improvements or the complaints will persist. - Phil Marshall of research firm Yankee Group

Everyone is interested in figuring out if this is an AT&T or an Apple issue. I just want to know who to call to fix it. - iPhone owner Benji Jasik

As the market matures, every single customer is tougher to get. This environment is really competitive. - Anthony Melone, Verizon’s chief technology officer

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AT&T Rivals Pounce on iPhone Glitches