AT&T has had its fair share of ads attacking the iPhone or their own networks inadequacies. Now they have a rival ad that does both. Verizon has been releasing quite a few ads that try and break down AT&T’s lack of 3G coverage as opposed to their own to try and combat the decrease in sales because of iPhone fever. With one of their most recent ads they play on the iPhone’s “app for that” routine by discussing what “maps for that” they had, which did not strike AT&T’s fancy.

     AT&T decided to make a statement regarding the ads slandering their network:

“AT&T’s wireless data coverage reaches 303 million people – or 97% of the U.S. population, where they live and work. Our data coverage consists of 3 different types of technology:

• 3G. 233 million people or 75% of the population are covered by AT&T’s 3G network, the nation’s fastest.
• EDGE. 301 million people or more than 96% of the population are covered by EDGE.
  • With both 3G and EDGE coverage, customers can access the Internet, send e-mail, surf the Web, stream music, download videos, send photos, text, talk and more. The only difference – with some data applications, 3G is faster than EDGE
• GPRS. Covers 303 million people, allowing you to talk, text, e-mail and access basic websites optimized for wireless.”

     Further on in the article they attribute their companies strength to the fact that they have the iPhone and the most apps opposed to any other network. AT&T will learn soon enough that they can’t always hold out for their “ace in the hole” iPhone.