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AT&T Sues Verizon Over 'Misleading' TV Ads
Spots wrongly suggest a lack of coverage in large areas, it says
By John Johnson
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Posted Nov 3, 09 5:31 PM CST
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(Newser)
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AT&T went to court today to try to stop Verizon from mocking its wireless coverage in new TV commercials. The lawsuit contends that Verizon uses "misleading" maps to suggest that AT&T customers get no coverage at all in large swaths of the country. Verizon's "There's a Map for That" ads seek to capitalize on complaints that AT&T is struggling to keep up with rising demand from iPhone users and their many apps, notes the Wall Street Journal.
"Verizon knows we're the leader in smart phones," says an AT&T spokesman. "This whole campaign is a response to that." The ads used in the commercial suggest a total lack of coverage in spots, rather than just a lack of 3G coverage, says AT&T. Verizon calls the suit frivolous. "Our ads clearly explain that non-3G coverage is available elsewhere," says a spokesman.