AT&T sues Verizon over 'there's a map for that' ad

AT&T has sued Verizon Wireless over Verizon's latest "there's a map for that" ad that knocks AT&T's 3G coverage.

AT&T claims the ad is misleading and is pursuing a cease-and-desist order through a federal court in Georgia and claimed the ads are causing it to lose "incalculable market share."

The ads are taking a swipe at the "there's an app for that" ads from Apple that tout the iPhone, which is offered exclusively by AT&T Mobility. AT&T claims Verizon's ads don't accurately represent AT&T's coverage. The ads show maps of the two companies' 3G wireless coverage, and AT&T claims the blank spots on the map for AT&T in the ads mislead viewers into thinking that AT&T has no service in those areas.

"By communicating that AT&T customers have no coverage in large parts of the country, Verizon is misleading the public about an essential component of the services AT&T offers," the lawsuit said. AT&T argues in the lawsuit that customers can "fully use their wireless devices outside of a '3G' coverage area and undisputedly have coverage in areas depicted by white or blank spaces on the maps used in Verizon's advertisements."

The two companies are already fighting over Verizon's ads that tout its network as "America's Most Reliable 3G Network."

For more:
- see this WSJ article (sub. req.)
- see this Reuters article

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