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Verizon Internal Memo Is Anti-iPhone 3G Campaign

Submitted by Edward Kirk on August 25, 2008 - 9:33am.
in

We all love the iPhone 3G, and Apple's ads do a great job demonstrating all it's wondrous glory to the ignorant masses, but it's still not perfect. Now an internal document from US carrier Verizon Wireless shows that they are preparing to launch a new anti-iPhone campaign that hits the iPhone where it's weakest-- AT&T.

BGR claims to have intercepted the below document that was sent out to their agents. They criticize the iPhone 3G by saying that the new twice-as-fast speeds are only available where AT&T offers it (which is less of a problem than it used to be thanks to AT&T's network expansion efforts), but is still only 40-50% compared to their network's 80%.

They also attack it's lower price for being bundled with a plan that costs more than the previous one, something many have found misleading.

Also pointed out in the ad are the fact that PIX is still available only through Email on the iPhone 3G, the lack of Turn-By-Turn GPS, the inability to download music over 3G, and the removal of free text messages included with the plan.

[via BGR]

Submitted by Stephen007 on August 25, 2008 - 11:42am.
Honestly, they raise a few very good points.

#1) Coverage for me in my city & surrounding areas has been unbelievably wonderful but it's true that there are large areas of the US that are not covered by AT&T 3G.

#2) Jobs really pissed me off with that whole "it's 1/2 the price". Bullcrap! I felt a bit like it was bait & switch but [grumble, grumble] am still happy that I have upgraded and feel the 3G phone is worth the price.

All said, I'd rather have my iPhone.

If

Submitted by jdha2875 on August 25, 2008 - 12:06pm.
If companys like Verizon and Sprint and Tmobile want to bash there competition then they need to also stand behind that and offer a compared phone that also works on both Windows and Macs. Apple did. I am tired of the shredding and though I agree with some of the facts, we should be able to send pixs anyway we choose, At&t should let us it is stupid they dont. But like I said offer us an alternative but just as advanced. ( they cant) And My reception does suck.

Submitted by Ohiomulchboy4 on August 25, 2008 - 12:08pm.
Interestingly enough i saw something identical to this about month ago or just right after the 3g launch. I worked for Best Buy Mobile (now they're going to carry the iphone on sept 7!) But our verizon reps had this sheet of paper overnighted to us to "help us sell to someone who may have been interested in the iphone"
It irritated me but i know its just all marketing. It was set up like it was an ad from the show Myth Busters though alot of it was accurate the way they went about it was that they knew it was a great device and wanted to try to act like a child and say well we have better (kinda like the old my dad is better than yours). Where I live absolutely verizon has better coverage than at&t thats why i still have my verizon phone and bought an iphone last sept. but thought it was odd to see this now on here.
Also this paper was shoved under a desk after we got it....... and never seen again

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 25, 2008 - 1:46pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen007 View Post
Honestly, they raise a few very good points.

#1) Coverage for me in my city & surrounding areas has been unbelievably wonderful but it's true that there are large areas of the US that are not covered by AT&T 3G.

#2) Jobs really pissed me off with that whole "it's 1/2 the price". Bullcrap! I felt a bit like it was bait & switch but [grumble, grumble] am still happy that I have upgraded and feel the 3G phone is worth the price.

All said, I'd rather have my iPhone.
I'm confused, didn't Steve say iPhone and not Total Cost of Ownership combining the iPhone and a AT&T iPhone voice and data plan?

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 25, 2008 - 1:49pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen007 View Post
Honestly, they raise a few very good points.

#1) Coverage for me in my city & surrounding areas has been unbelievably wonderful but it's true that there are large areas of the US that are not covered by AT&T 3G.

#2) Jobs really pissed me off with that whole "it's 1/2 the price". Bullcrap! I felt a bit like it was bait & switch but [grumble, grumble] am still happy that I have upgraded and feel the 3G phone is worth the price.

All said, I'd rather have my iPhone.
I'm confused regarding "1/2 the Price", didn't Steve say iPhone and not Total Cost of Ownership of combining the iPhone and a AT&T iPhone voice and data plan? Thus technically is not what Steve said or what is advertised for the price on Apple's home page correct?

Submitted by Stephen007 on August 25, 2008 - 2:48pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
I'm confused regarding "1/2 the Price", didn't Steve say iPhone and not Total Cost of Ownership of combining the iPhone and a AT&T iPhone voice and data plan? Thus technically is not what Steve said or what is advertised for the price on Apple's home page correct?
An "error of ommission" is still viewed by many to be a lie :-)

If I agree to sell you a cellphone and drop the price by1/2 (to rousing audience applause I must add) and "forget" to tell you that the monthly fee increase will end up costing you MORE than the price I've dropped the hardware... well, a lot of people might be pretty miffed about that. Being correct isn't the point. Feeling misled or screwed is mine.

......

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 25, 2008 - 4:21pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen007 View Post
An "error of ommission" is still viewed by many to be a lie :-)

If I agree to sell you a cellphone and drop the price by1/2 (to rousing audience applause I must add) and "forget" to tell you that the monthly fee increase will end up costing you MORE than the price I've dropped the hardware... well, a lot of people might be pretty miffed about that. Being correct isn't the point. Feeling misled or screwed is mine.
Ok, I bought my iPhone for $600. The new iPhone is only $200. That' less then half the price. If you want to complain about the data plan increase, complain to AT&T. Besides, the increase was $10 a month. That's $120 a year and that still only puts it to $320 total coast for a year. Still half the price of what I paid originally. Now, some might say, "what about 2 or 3 years? That's like another $240?!" My reply... I don't plan on owing the same iPhone for more than a year... I only had my last one for a year. I bought the new one when it came out. So I'm only going buy pricing for a year, and it's still half the price. So get over it.

Submitted by Beast on August 25, 2008 - 5:35pm.

Submitted by xxx on August 25, 2008 - 7:08pm.
Please, verizon? take it like a man

Submitted by xmax21 on August 25, 2008 - 8:29pm.
Its true!!!!!!!!!

I've been a looooooong Verizon customer for almost 10 years but just cancelled my service today because I have the iPhone. It was one of the hardest decitions I ever had to make. Why? Because ATT has always sucked! service, covarage, everything.... If it wasn't for the iPhone, I would have never left Verizon.

Apple didn't wrong by sticking with this company! Hopefully they get it right next time. Sorry if I was to hard on ATT but there's millions of people that feel the same way.

Submitted by Stephen007 on August 25, 2008 - 9:12pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beast View Post
http://www.youtube.com/v/GSaPn8gP15Y
Truly awesome! :-D