Verizon Set to Unleash New “iDevice iDoesn’t” Attack Ads
Hot on the heels of their spunky new “there’s a map for that” anti-iPhone/AT&T programming, Verizon looks set to unless yet more attack ads. Engadget Mobile says:
We’re hearing that the carrier will be kicking off a major new campaign this evening during the Yankees-Angels game that’ll feature “a very different look and a whole new attitude,” calling out the “iDevice” (their words, not ours) for all the things it can’t do.
Yeah, from the network that famously locked down GPS, wouldn’t allow Wi-Fi, and removed OS-specific application markets for their own bloatware, that’s a lot of nerve. Especially given the lukewarm reception Verizon is already getting for their new BlackBerry Storm2 (never mind their deceptive comparisons…), their Android savior still on the horizon, and hardly exclusive, and they seemingly won’t be landing an iPhone of their own anytime soon.
Still, it should also be a lot of fun! If you catch the new ads, let us know what you think!
October 17th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
It’s not all bad though, honestly. History shows that Apple steps up to the plate when customers or the competition scream loudly enough. And that’s a good thing.
It will also be interesting to see if Verizon can pull off launching a device quite as smart and flexible as Android without pissing off customers who actually want to use them as /they/ intend and not as /Verizon/ intends. We shall see.
Because some things really /aren’t/ about the Network.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Curious strategy for a company courting the iPhone.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Watch what it does to iPhone sales. Nothing. Most people who own or want to own an iPhone know that there are no competitors that come even close to matching it’s power.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Verizon isn’t going to change anyone’s mind who has an iPhone on at&t or t-mobile. They claim to have 3G… this is a fail and they have an awful selection of cell phones unless you don’t care about having a snazzy phone that just about does it all and looks good.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Verizon is doing us a favor by calling out Apple. They aren’t going to respond to people whining on tipb.com, but they should respond to Verizon commercials.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Very negative campaign, shows up an inferiority complex. Not sure it will work either, the Palm ads referring to Apple certainly did not overwhelm, and I’m not sure Microsoft’s direct attack worked terribly well either.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
FYI Storm 2 release oct 21st
October 17th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
No one cares really outside the BB fanboys already on VZW. Its not going to make anyone switch to VZW to get it, nor does it help that the original Storm was a flop. Lots of people wont ever buy another one after their issues with the first model.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
People should calm down on these ads because the most input Verizon had in them was probably a 20 minute meeting to approve the campaign with what ever advertising agency created this for them.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
@IGorsky:
Verizon is hitching its wagon to the Android star, and is not really interested in the iPhone any more. I think they realize that future growth will be more rapid in the Android ecosphere: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/10/android/
I find it mildly comical, after watching the biased lies in Apple’s PC-vs-Mac ads for years that Apple fans get upset when someone does the exact same thing to them.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I will be interested to see if the Andriod will have some form of OS and app protection like iPhone and what Verizon will do if the Android is jailbreaked like iPhone. There is a lot to see once other smartphones try to enter the waters to compete with Apple.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
It won’t work.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
@icebike
yeah verizon wouldn’t take the iPhone. Yeah you’re right. Really. I swear. They wouldn’t.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I couldn’t care less what they have to say. My iPhone 3gs is te best phone I’ve ever had. Why even try, they are just making themselves look desperate.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
iPhone ftw!!!!!!
October 17th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I’d say it’s slam dunk marketing to point out the iPhones flaws. It’s not perfect, so don’t get all offended. Multitasking, lack of tethering (on AT&T), expensive a$$ plans (on AT&T). Pointing out facts.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
lol at above. Obviously a VZW fanboy.
Check your prices again VZW is NO cheaper than ATT.
Tethering matters to .0005% of people using the phone. You merely hear the most vocal nerds who want it. Most of these people are also ones who want to play the system and use it for free instead of get the plan which wont happen either way.
Slam dunk marketing my ***. Sounds like they have nothing better and this is the best way they can compete- with a smear campaign.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Maybe it will lead the apple “geniuses” to be “inspired” with “innovative” ideas like background apps, customizing the home screen, unified email inboxes, Flash support, and other things that to date, apple has tried to convince us that we don’t really want…
October 17th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Lets get the TRUE VZW facts
Who has locked down Bluetooth?
Who has locked people out of GPS?
Who has stripped OS features for the “red” interface?
Who has/will strip the app stores off their phones for a VZW app store?
Sorry, not ATT. VZW is FAR from perfect to be boasting
October 17th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Actually AT&T I found to be cheaper than Verzion who our company was with for many years. We decided to swtich to AT&T and are saving about $10K a year.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
@kimsu19
“Sounds like they have nothing better and this is the best way they can compete- with a smear campaign.” you mean like the “brilliant” campaign Apple has been running against Vista for the last few years. Typical apple fans – when apple does it it is genius, when anyone else does it it is stupid.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
funny since youre putting words in my mouth I never said. this has NOTHING to do with Apple vs Microsoft. TOTALLY irrelevant analogy and a totally different type of product and market.
This is VZW whining and crying because they arent getting the iphone and all their smartphones combined dont sell as well as the iphone still.
Take a shot at ATT, fine. But whats Apple have to do with ATT’s 3g, please do share! Its a totally off based irrelevant attack to Apple.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
And I guess by your analogy then I cant wait to see the ATT rebuttal commercial on the points I stated above:
Who has locked down Bluetooth?
Who has locked people out of GPS?
Who has stripped OS features for the “red” interface?
Who has/will strip the app stores off their phones for a VZW app store?
Sorry, not ATT.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
So how about that Verizon branded iphone lol and how many jailbroken iphones do you think they’ll be when Verizon finishes up their 4G network?
@ iphone/apple fanboys Why is it that any marketing against the iphone is negative marketing to you guys…and I notice its only iphone fanboys. I have a mac and I read Mac blogs and there’s is hardly any of this fanboyism.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Bring it on, I say. There’s nothing better than healthy competition. If it drives Apple and AT&T to further notice their shortcomings, the better.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
@soco_Jon
it has nothing to do with being a fanboy its being logical. Please, since no one else has decided to respond to it, explain how “a map for that” ripping on Apple has ANYTHING to do with ATT 3g coverage?
Their onslaught of smear so far has no bases in Apple other than a low blow shot with mocking the slogan since its solely directed at ATT
October 17th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
What’s with all of the team spirit nonsense?
October 17th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
@klmsu19
youre just over analyzing it dude..as are many others..it was comical…see the “funny” in it guy..at&t sucks and great portion of at&t customers will tell you the same thing. apple and at&t are like a team…and if youre going to attack one..why not both?
i also wasnt just referring to the iphone..i mentioned apple as a company. iphone fanboys seem to want to have an argument in an area to which they just need to shut up.tell me why is Microsoft the devil when they were making “its a PC” ads??
October 17th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
@soco_jon
Because computers are unrelated to this situation. Computers are the OS and thats where it ends! Smartphones are the OS AND the carrier. You cant just lump them together because their individual flaws are not a sum.
For example, lack of multitasking is not related to ATT what so ever, nor is ATT’s 3g coverage area related to the iphone what so ever. Theyre 100% unrelated independent situations.
Sure its a funny ironic commercial, but from a business standpoint it was just a low blow at Apple for which they didnt deserve in this situation. They have no control over ATT’s coverage.
People seem to forget VZW’s HUGE limitations and flaws of the past few years. No carrier is perfect and the low blows are a stupid business decision. As for example the Pre hacking to sync with itunes. All it does is get them press coverage, whether its good or bad coverage is debatable though.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
@klmsu19
also..youre facts are also outdated…youre obviously another fanboy and youve obviously never verizon…the gps thing is a lie..the bluetooth is not locked down and the wi-fi is enabled on some phones..even this blog site knows that vzw will have wi-fi enabled phones from here on out…the app store gimmick..simply a lie as well or an opinion or nonfact..howwver you wan to say it.
find some at&t problems and post those too why dont you.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Funny because I HAVE used VZW, in fact I got a settlement check from the Moto V710 class action for bluetooth!!!
GPS is NOT a lie, check your facts. Look back at Blakcberrys and Windows Mobile on VZW 6 months ago, locked down GPS to VZW Navigator. Not a lie, sorry. Check WMExperts and Crackberry and yourll see its 100% fact.
Speaking of fanboys you sure sound like a VZW fanboy with nothing but baseless attacks on the person instead of posting facts you actually checked before opening your mouth!
October 17th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
@klmsu19
i can see where youre coming from..i really can.as far at the low blows to the carrier bc of the phone..and i’ll give you credit for that..i a fair man..but dont be so biased…theyre not as irrelevant as you make it out be.its a successful business venture thats hurting other carriers..for some reason vzw feels that they need to market those falws of other carriers and phone..and phones on other carriers for that matter..it will either fail or win back customers..
but for sh*ts and giggles..picture this… “if the idoesnt, then what does?…the idevice on a new network!! introducing…the iphone on verizon!!” hahahaha i know its far from reality but whatever haha
October 17th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
“Smartphones are the OS AND the carrier. You cant just lump them together because their individual flaws are not a sum.”
Wow, people often contradict themselves from post to post, but this has to be the first time I have seen somebody disagree with himself from sentence to sentence.
“Sure its a funny ironic commercial, but from a business standpoint it was just a low blow at Apple for which they didnt deserve in this situation. They have no control over ATT’s coverage.”
But they had control over the iPhone’s coverage. They willingly and with foreknowledge of AT&T’s network signed an exclusive deal. Nobody forced them to cede that control; they did it willingly, and bear the responsibility for that decision. When you hitch your wagon to one exclusive partner, you are putting your name on the line with that one partner, and yes, that makes it your responsibility.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
RON JEREMY THINKS THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN AT&T’S MEDIA NET IS VERIZON’S VCAST JUNK….GOOD LUCK WITH THAT VERIZON…..GO ANGELS
October 17th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
@klmsu19 “…check your facts. Look back at Blakcberrys and Windows Mobile on VZW 6 months ago”
again..outdated and irrelevant non-facts youre speaking of.that was 6 months ago…my storm’s bluetooth works just like any other bluetooth..but tell me..how does the file sending via bluetooth work for you? also theres a saying that goes “If it aint broken, the dont fix it” the vz navigator might be bloatware but it works great..i dont see why you want another gps app on your phone anywa and the cost isnt any more expensive than other gps apps..
im not here to do bashig to an extreme..the iphone is a great device but its just as crippled on at&t.im not a vzw fanboy but i am a settling blackberry user on vzw who left my iphone in the dust bc of at&t.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Look, the iPhone is the one phone that gets AT&T subscribers, and it is a huge success. So, if you’re Verizon, attacking the iPhone and attacking AT&T are the same thing, for as long as AT&T and Apple have their exclusivity deal.
Also, I wonder if this has to do anything with Google Voice, VOIP, video over cellular, or smartphone tethering. These are the things that the iPhone on AT&T can’t do, and those of us in the U.S. who read these blogs know that it’s because AT&T can’t handle the load on their 3G network. I wouldn’t ignore the FCC investigation and net neutrality to be playing a role in this advertising campaign. There’s a lot at stake in the U.S. telco industry these days.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
no one who has an iphone or wants an iphone will be swayed by these ads. They are pretty much a waste of money on verizons part.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I will be a Android based product called “Droid” they will be launching or more promoting for a upcoming product launch which will be based on Multitasking
October 17th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Actually here
The commercials will be based on the below URL
http://www.droiddoes.com
October 17th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
@Dennis the above URL will explain it all, just watch… Well explain most of it
October 17th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I may be a Android based sidekick, that is my best guess
October 17th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
@Soco_Jon:
I have seen some bad VzW employee trolling but you are by far the worse. Sine i am a VzW Employee I can easily blow away your trolling idiocies…. SO lets begin.
First, off bluetooth file sharing is still an issue for VzW since not all phones support it. The GPS being unlocked for VzW phones means nothing since there are few if any Turn by Turn competitors. What’s the point of unlocking the phones when your customers have to dig to find learn the capabilities of the phone?
And no your not a VzW fanboy.. You are an employee. Why? At&t’s churn rate is only .01 higher then VzWs…. If their service sucked so much they wouldn’t be growing faster then VzW and they wouldn’t have the churn rate that they do.
SO your statement is baseless noise. The truth is you have never had At&t’s service and your just a blind idiot.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
@Dennis… Again i work for VzW. VzW couldn’t handle the load that At&t currently under goes.
One, the only VOIP app we have is Google Voice and thats due to Google not VzW. Two VzW doesn’t mind the app because we are currently working on a pricing structure for our network that will phase out unlimited Data plans and push towards scaled data cap plans. The only phones that will be allowed to have “unlimited” plans will be dumbphones due to even the heaviest usage isn’t anywhere close to a moderate Smartphone user.
Also the iPhone does have voip (Vonage) over 3G and we will see what happens with Skype.
Also when was tethering a big deal? Most smartphone users do not even use the syncing software that comes with their device (meaning they couldn’t tether if they wanted to) let alone know how to use there device. Tethering is more of a business application then an consumer solution and honestly… its a ripoff. Your paying for a capability your phone can do.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
@Kimsu19
How am I a Verizon fanboy? I am a former tmobile user that now has a 3GS on AT&T. The Verizon ads target what the iPhone lacks. I haven’t diluted myself into thinking the iPhone is perfect. I’m certainly not saying that Verizon is better. In fact, I know very little about Verizon. I just think attacking the iPhones weaknesses is good MARKETING. It might not sway nerds who troll iPhone blogs, but informing everyday people what the iphone lacks only helps.
And, you have to admit, the “there’s a map for that” ads are stunning. I didn’t even know att’s 3g network was so small in comparison.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
@ lolipopjones Lmao at you bc you know EVERYTHING. I’m not an employee. Just a very satisfied Verizon customer and a very dissatisfied previous AT&T customer. I did jump on the iphone bandwagon when it first came out and at&ts service still sucks regardless of what you say. If you were a cell phone owner you would know its not the carrier that limits Bluetooth but also the manufacturer. Pick up any Samsung phone on any network and you’ll see the issue with Bluetooth file transfer between that handset and another. You’re percentages mean **** and you’re probably just a bitter underpayed sales associate. Get over yourself. The only reason you get on here is for vzw trolling. Your debates are never about the iphone just bashing your customers.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
iFIND these ads iLARIOUS. iHATE apple and all their products. I’m a fanboy of open platforms and of not acting like i’m a part of some hipster cult becuase of the phone i own. It’s about time big RED started pooping on ATT’s network. I dropped call on a routine basis when i lived in NYC and Philly…. i can’t even imagine what service is like in podunk, AR.
@klmsu19- you obviously don’t know what an analogy is. socoJON was dead on.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Also @ lolipopjones…your data cap statement is bs and you read that online or in a paper. I read the same **** and its nowhere near close to a time frame we as consumers need to worry about.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
NEEEEEERRRRDS!!!!!!!
All your Apple fanboys and anti-Apple people shut up! I use an iPhone and love it but am thinking about trying out an Android phone once my contract expires. It’s all about user experience. When I got my iPhone last year there wasn’t a more stable phone on the market. Now, with a plethora of new Android devices coming out and the HTC HD2 hitting the US there are more options. I do hope Apple takes it up a notch when 4.0 comes out. Seriously, the UI is kinda old and stale. Customization would be nice too. But face it. We knew that the iPhone would raise the bar and it looks like it’s working. So who cares if the carriers have a hair pulling fight because they are fighting for my business.
Later Nerds!
October 17th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Its not a verizon commercial at all.its an android one which means its google’s doing
October 17th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
You were all wrong Rene and look what you started
October 17th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
@kev I think I’m right
October 17th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Sparks a lot of buzz which equals a win for V and Android.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
BTW..who loses here with the attack ads? Isn’t Apple. These look fun for them. Isn’t Verizon or Android..buzz buzz.
That would be Palm who missed the opportunity to be the aggressive underdog. And Verizon embracing Android isn’t doing Palm any favors as they look to launch early next year on the big V.
This should’ve been an obvious campaign for Palm from day one. Instead they rolled out the crazy woman commercials.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Earless you are right. Its a misleading commercial. No VZW anywhere until you visit the site.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I don’t know about other places in the U.S. but the AT&T edge network is faster here in western PA than Verizon’s 3G network anyway.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Btw when did we become a country of pussies? Attack ads used to be the norm. Now nobody wants to get their feelings hurt. F that **** if there’s a weakness then exploit it. Apple does a fine job with their attacks on PCs and I’m sure you all get a good laugh whenever you see those commercials. The iPhone is a great phone but it does lack in a few areas.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
@kev
+1
October 17th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Some of you act like VZW insulted your mother. Its a freaking iPhone and if a commercial against it gets you that riled up then you should get an iLife.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
@cardfan
how does “buzz” = win? Let’s see the sales shall we?
October 17th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
What it all boils down to is the user. Some like the iPhone. Some like the Pre. So on. So forth.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
@scadole: hipster cult? Seriously? Wow….and if you”iHATE” Apple and their products, WHY THE EFF ARE YOU ON AN iPHONE SITE???
October 18th, 2009 at 1:44 am
@Soco_Jon: Stop lying kid. McAdam already stated back at the CES that Unlimited Data plans would be gone when the LTE network is established. He also further stated that VzW was moving away from Data plans..
Read this you idiot.
http://pcworld.about.com/od/phones/Verizon-Expands-Mandatory-Data.htm
You never had At&t service and you are an idiot. You just a VzW fanboy coming on here to cry about how your crapberry works despite the fact that you have probably replaced it 3 times this year..
You know what sucks.. the SMS/MMS outage that VzW customers have been having as of late. Seems that if you have friends on any other carrier they cant send you messages… Go go VzW switch issues..
October 18th, 2009 at 2:57 am
I think everyone that wants a “real” keyboard should go ahead and go to vzw. It’ll be more bandwidth for the rest of us.
October 18th, 2009 at 6:25 am
Verizon has a severe case of iPhone envy!
October 18th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Verizon doesn’t think anybody is going to switch just by seeing these ads. The ads are meant to get you thinking, which has obviously worked. So many people think the iPhone is the “be all, end all” and that there’s nothing wrong with it. These ads make you attempt to validate that claim and actually think about how your phone could be better. From that point the rest is up to you, Verizon just got the ball rolling on that thought process, nothing more.
October 18th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
@ lolipopjones
“If you like your VzW so much then go suck some VzW **** on their forums and get the **** off of ours.”
coming from a verizon employee..that makes a bunch of sense.you earned extra points for that one kid. but you did point out one thing…that you read that **** online so you being an employee doesnt justofy anything you stated.anybody can read articles idiot…
it says that they wil move away yes but doesnt specify a specific date…so again..wheres your credibility and wheres your point?
my blakcberry works fine.im not complaining about anything nor did i mentiono anything about how it doesnt work fine..the sms/mms outage is again irrelevant to me bc it works..FINE where im at. your arguments are the lamest . and like thats an argument to use against a carrier whos dropped calls occur more often that bird sh itting…like i said, youre just a sales rep who has no credibility when it comes to factual statements.you get nothing more than a morning briefing when you clock in.and you might not get that.
October 18th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
holy $hit, some of you mofos are nutters.
any campaign that points out weaknesses is a GOOD thing. as a customer, this brings to front the issues that many people experience with a product that you might not have known. many people will see that add who own an iphone and will think “well $hit, why da heil does my iphone not have dose tinks?” ur average dumbo will realize that s/he is not getting such a smart phone after all and may move to a plan with verizon.
atnt and apple will have to take note and IMPROVE. customers win out in the end.
stop ur damn whining and go read some real world news for a change. ****
October 19th, 2009 at 10:35 am
this blog will be slurping Verizon when they do get the iPhone. Apple hates AT&T