Verizon cans ads that batter Sprint's push-to-talk network

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 6th 2008 at 12:40PM

Man, what's up with Verizon and its ad department? Just a few months back, the carrier was thrashed by PETA for running a controversial spot involving two pit bulls chained up in a junkyard, and now it's being fingered for making questionable remarks toward Sprint's push-to-talk network. For those unaware, the spots (one hosted after the break) included lines such as "We all upgraded to Verizon Wireless. Got push to talk and the reliability of the network. That old service is useless now." Sprint argued that the subtle drops could wrongfully influence people to believe that Sprint's PTT network was non-functional or that it would soon be discontinued, and eventually, NAD (an ad watchdog agency) recommended that VZW nix the ads. As it stands, the commercials in question have indeed been dropped, but Verizon asserts that it did so as a normal part of business. Ah well, it's the end result that matters, right Sprint?

Filed under: Culture, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, Misc

Tags: ad, advertisement, advertising, commercial, disagreement, issue, problem, PTT, push-to-talk, sprint, sprint nextel, SprintNextel, Verizon

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highest Ranked

doubleu606 @ Nov 6th 2008 1:05PM

I love in those ads too, they're marketing these sleek, sexy, silver PTT phones to construction guys. Yeah right, like those are going to hold up to those heavy rubber Sprint/Nextel phones. Nice ad targeting Verizon......

Highest Ranked

Dan @ Nov 6th 2008 2:36PM

Funny you mention that. The company my brother works for does HVAC work and switched from Sprint to VZW two weeks ago. They all got the Moto phone in the commercial. With in 48 hours two guys had crushed the external screen and another dropped his from about 30 feet and the phone was done. He said the main problem they had was just hearing the phones when an alert came through. Needless to say they are in the process of switching back to Sprint and reactivate the old i355 they all used before. They are some brick phones but you can baseball throw those bad boys against a wall and the phone is fine.

Neutral

Randy @ Nov 10th 2008 10:59AM

Awesome story Dan. As a Sprint employee, those are the types of stories we like to hear.
Please contact me at randal.spolter@sprint.com

Neutral

vaxick @ Nov 6th 2008 1:08PM

That commercial is super old and they have other ones. Removed though? That's funny, I just saw one on TV.

Neutral

Riley Freeman @ Nov 6th 2008 2:11PM

this is silly. its competition. ads are supposed to be funny and take sublte shots at the other guy. if u ant take theh eat get out of the kitchen sprint. u were actualyl doing better.

sprints simple response should have been. hey i got gps picture mail working on my phone. i have those features but my carrier doesnt want me using them without paying.

see subtle shots right back at verizon.

Lowest Ranked

Jay @ Nov 7th 2008 11:12AM

WOW, SPRINT SUCKS WHO CARES! Now this just makes sprint look like a bunch of babies. All these other wireless companies can do Is cry, there jealous were the number 1 in advertising for a Wireless Company, No one saw us cry about not getting the iPhone...HEY SPINT GROW A PAIR! and sit back and watch how daddy works....