AT&T ads tout advantage over Verizon iPhone: Talking while browsing

February 2, 2011 By Jeffrey Van Camp

In an attempt to retain as many customers as it can, AT&T has sent out emails to customers reminding them that the Verizon iPhone won't be able to talk and browse at the same time.

Verizon is getting the iPhone on Feb. 10 and AT&T is nervous as hell. In a desperate attempt to make itself look good, the wireless carrier is shooting out e-mails to its existing customers, reminding them of the one known advantage AT&T has over Verizon: talking while using data. The ad (seen above) shows a woman talking on the phone while searching for movie tickets on Fandango, reports Gear Live. The woman is using Bluetooth, since having a headset (or using the speakerphone) is the only scenario where you could feasibly attempt such a multitask on any network. AT&T began this line of attack ads in late 2009, when it and Verizon were trading blows over 3G coverage. Luke Wilson starred in the original commercials.

The claim is still relevant, but talking and browsing simultaneously isn’t an activity that people do very often. AT&T customers who are switching to Verizon are likely doing so because AT&T’s service is spotty and inconsistent in their town or home. From the anecdotal evidence we’ve gathered, Verizon’s CDMA network excels at having coverage in areas where AT&T’s GSM performance suffers.

However, entering the 4G era, this argument is irrelevant. Both Verizon and AT&T are implementing and launching 4G networks using LTE technology, and both will be capable of browsing and talking at the same time.

Is browsing while talking a feature that means something to you?

Showing 6 comments

Smileycat at 7:11pm 6th February 2011 I live near Atlanta and have no problem with AT&T. I talk and text, check maps, search movie times, buy tickets, etc... I just use my headphones or put them on speaker phone. I would consider switching to Verizon if the price was better and I could still use my phone the same way.
Nancy Wyse at 6:26pm 2nd February 2011 Who wants to browse and talk anyway? Its a pain to try to do and takes way longer than the iPhone commercials make it seem.
Dave Moehle at 4:33pm 2nd February 2011 You can access your emails just fine while on a phone call on verizon on my droid Eris. AND you don't have to be connected to WiFi to do it. Simply use the email widget instead of the browser... why use the browser for email anyway...takes way too long and all the ads have to cache... and, as Michele pointed out... I Don't have to call anyone back to finish a phone call :) Unless THEY are on AT&T, but then I just let them call back when their service returns LMAO !
Chris Johnson at 4:21pm 2nd February 2011 I think Michele covered this pretty spot-on. Beyond that, how many times does a person find themselves needing to surf while talk? "Hang on, it's been a good call but I need to check my Facebook."While I understand it's great to be able to access recently emails or things along those lines, it's hardly a selling a point of a phone, especially with a poor network.AT&T really needs to toss out a trump card if they're going to stay afloat after the iphone hits Verizon.
Michele Robinson at 4:02pm 2nd February 2011 in my experience, talking while browsing with AT&T is hit or miss anyway. I don't try to use that 'feature' often, but the majority of time when I do I'm given a message along the lines of 'could not activate data network'. Combine that with AT&T's worsening coverage and responses to email complaints like "remember we're the best..." without actually addressing the original issue, they should be nervous as hell. I'll be switching to Verizon next month not for the iphone, but because I'd like to finish a voice conversation that doesn't require I call a person back 7 times in a 30 minute period.
Stephen LeatherFace Popa at 3:54pm 2nd February 2011 who wants to buy a 3 year old phone??