Do you know when attack ads or negative marketing works the best? When they strike a chord.
This has been so clear watching AT&T vehemently fight Verizon’s attacks about their coverage. They have spoken out on it, they have sued (and lost), now they have created an ad campaign responding to the claims. Quite frankly, outside of promoting the latest iPhone, this is the most responsive I have seen AT&T since I signed on in 2007.
I’ve been an AT&T customer since the first week of the first iPhone and have dreaded every minute of it. Lost calls, broken promises and a general lack of caring towards the new customer base that their exclusivity has brought them. MMS, we will get there eventually… Tethering, at some point… Better phone service, but we have the fastest 3G.
Stop putting out press releases, save your money on the lawsuits and don’t bother rebuking the claims. Just put the same effort and speed that went into this response into making your service better. While you are at it, you also may want to ask yourself why so many people, including loyal iPhone users, are nodding their heads emphatically at the assertions Verizon has made about your service (Hint: it is because they ring true).
Address the issues of your customers, do not waste time arguing with your competition. If Verizon’s claims were without merit, I assure you that we would stand up and cry foul alongside you. Take a look around, you are the only ones defending your case.
Worry a lot less about what your competition is saying about you and take a second to listen to what we, your customers, have to say about the quality of your service. I can assure you, a real solution to your problems will go a lot farther than 30 seconds with Luke Wilson.