Is T-Mobile worried now that Verizon and AT&T both have the iPhone? A new ad mocking the two networks suggests it's going on the offensive.
The Verizon iPhone announcement on January 11 marked the beginning of the iPhone Wars between Verizon Wireless and AT&T, formerly the exclusive carrier of the Apple iPhone. Now, T-Mobile has joined the fray with a new advertisement that strikes at the iPhone's limitations as a 3G device.
T-Mobile's ad alleges that both Verizon's and AT&T's 3G networks restrict the iPhone's potential. The ad touts the speed of T-Mobile's "4G network"--though, in reality, T-Mobile's network is actually an upgraded 3G network. "T-Mobile's network is based on what the rest of the industry considers 3G technology. But T-Mobile says calling it 4G is justified because downloads are as fast as the new 4G networks," according to AP.
AT&T has also attacked the speed of Verizon's network. Two days before Verizon announced its partnership with Apple, AT&T's Larry Solomon stated that Verizon's network will struggle with the traffic increase caused by iPhone users, who in turn would be disappointed with Verizon's speed. "The iPhone is built for speed, but that's not what you get with a CDMA phone. I'm not sure iPhone users are ready for life in the slow lane," Solomon said.
T-Mobile's ad says about the same, except it throws AT&T under the slow bus, too.
In the ad (which takes cues from Apple's "I'm a Mac" commercials), T-Mobile presents AT&T and Verizon as two identical, balding men dressed in grey suits. Only their neckties distinguish the one from the other: Verizon wears red; AT&T wears blue. The young man portraying the iPhone says he's slow no matter which of the two carriers you choose. "No choice is still a choice," the Verizon man unconvincingly retorts.
Check out the ad (below), which will reportedly air next week, PCWorld reports. SlashGear says that complaints about the iPhone's speed should focus on the device's modem and that blaming Verizon and AT&T is "unfair." What do you think about T-Mobile's ad? Share your thoughts in the comments. Then, read on to learn more about the Verizon iPhone.