AT&T And Verizon Trade Barbs In New AdsAT&T And Verizon Trade Barbs In New Ads

Being the big kids on the block, AT&T and Verizon often cross swords in their commercials. Verizon's usual position is to claim it has the best network overall when it comes to connectivity and reliability while AT&T clings to their superior speeds in most of their markets. Now that Verizon has the iPhone, it gives them one more thing to get digs in on each other.In the holiday season of 2009, Verizon took direct aim at the AT&T network and the iPhone by placing it on Rudolph's Island of Misfit Toys. The device is good, but what good is it if you cannot make a connection with it? Stick it on an island with other toys that don't live up to expectations was the message.

Now Verizon has launched their own ad in favor of the iPhone, which should come as no surprise given the imminent launch. It shows the iPhone spinning in mid-air and touts its beauty, intelligence and genius, Then the phone rings and the Verizon network guy comes on and says "Yes, I can year you now. Ouch AT&T.

AT&T was quick to respond with its own ad, cleverly titled "Answer." If course, it is an answer to Verizon's ad, but plays it up that it is a guy working late at night, answering a phone call from his wife. He has to scramble to find dinner reservations for their anniversary, which he has forgotten. He can surf the web while on the call, is the point, something Verizon cannot do.

As if a bit of karma that appeared to come back and bite Verizon for starting this little scuffle, it seems that in the Verizon iPhone ad displayed in the first half of Super Bowl XLV the sound was out for much of the voiceover and the network guy, leaving viewers wondering why they were looking at a spinning phone. It appeared to be nationwide based on Twitter.

AT&T couldn't have planned a better comeback if they tried.