Subject: Operation Chokehold
On Friday, December 18, at noon Pacific time, we will attempt to overwhelm the AT&T data network and bring it to its knees. The goal is to have every iPhone user (or as many as we can) turn on a data intensive app and run that app for one solid hour. Send the message to AT&T that we are sick of their substandard network and sick of their abusive comments. The idea is we’ll create a digital flash mob. We’re calling it in Operation Chokehold. Join us and speak truth to power!

If you’d like to get involved, here’s some tips. Obviously, turn off your Wifi; the point here is to bog down the cellular network so you’ll want to avoid connecting to a local wireless network. Also, you’ll want to use a high bandwidth app like YouTube or other video website. Make sure you check out the comments on the blog linked to above, there are some great ideas on using up bandwidth like NASA’s live video stream or Ustream’s new uploader.

AT&T Commercials:

Either way, I think both Verizon and AT&T’s commercials are slipping in quality. You can check them both out below.

AT&T Commercial:

Verizon Commercial:

It seems the Apple has quietly entered into this little drama. I’d say it’s becoming quite the thing. Personally, I like the subtle approach… these commercials made me smile!

Personal Opinion – Two Phones… not too bad, Postcards… lame. Check them out below.

AT&T Sets the Record Straight on Verizon Ads

To Our Customers:

As the U.S. market leader in wireless data service, we typically don’t respond to competitors’ advertising. However, some recent ads from Verizon are so blatantly false and misleading, that we want to set the record straight about AT&T’s wireless data coverage.

The key facts are:

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.
         o 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.

AT&T is the #1 network for smartphones, with twice the number of smartphone customers than Verizon, our closest competitor. Some of the reasons include:

Most popular smartphones. Unlike Verizon, AT&T offers the most popular smartphones in the industry.

More wireless apps. Unlike Verizon, AT&T customers have access to more than 100,000 applications, more than with any other wireless company.

Talk and E-mail at the same time. Unlike Verizon, AT&T’s 3G network lets wireless customers simultaneously talk and surf the web or do e-mail.

Fastest 3G in the nation. Unlike Verizon, AT&T has the nation’s fastest 3G network.

Thank you for allowing us to set the record straight. We appreciate your business and will continue to work hard to deliver the best wireless data experience in the industry.

Your AT&T Team

View the original letter on att.com.

This historical setting allows Verizon to compare its entire data network against just the faster portion of AT&T’s 3G mobile data network while ignoring AT&T’s existing 2.5G network that approaches Verizon’s EVDO in speed. By only comparing the newest segment of AT&T’s network, Verizon can advertise “3G maps” that are technically accurate, but grossly misleading to users who want to obtain data service to download email and access the web.

It also appears that Verizon is counting its service areas providing less than Rev A service as part of its 3G coverage, when in fact these deliver about the same performance as AT&T’s EDGE service.

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