Verizon Wireless's Outrage Over Alltel Ad A Bit Misplaced
from the bad-timing-is-all dept
Having just run into its own problems with false advertising, Verizon Wireless is now suing competitor Alltel, claiming false advertising in its commercials. The ads, such as the one here, make fun of Verizon Wireless and other mobile operators for forcing people to extend their contracts whenever they make changes, and claim that one of Alltel's advantage is the lack of such requirements.![Hide This Hide this](https://ii.techdirt.com/s/t/i/topclose.png)
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Filed Under: contracts, early termination fees, mobile operators
Companies: alltel, verizon
Reader Comments
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Re: Swiss Chz
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And in related news ...
Film at eleven.
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New Business Model
Just file a lawsuit.
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Why
Look at the similar companies in Europe, they have so much more freedom then us American's do with our crappy companies.
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Free Phones
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Long contracts are Un-American
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Re: Why
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Re: Why
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Re: And in related news ...
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Re: Long contracts are Un-American
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Re: GPK rant
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Re: Re: Swiss Chz
Take it to Verizon and make them switch your number over. They can't, under any circumstances FORCE you to extend your contract.
...only if you buy a phone at a "reduced contract" price (which is bull anyway, they're marked up like CRAZY) will you have to extend or sign a contract
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Re:
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Contracts on old plans
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Unlock Phones and Lose the Contracts
The market's saturation level is so high now, that the people who would pay a real retail price are severely outnumbered by the people who can't/won't pay retail for a handset. The wireless industry cannot afford to lose all of those customers and their monthly charges.
Even if the Cellco's did do away with contracts completely (and they don't need to, as long as they allow outright purchase), every carrier locks down the "features" on the handsets. Verizon is the worst that I've seen, but Alltel does it too. Try using Bluetooth to transfer music or pictures. It won't happen. They lock your content to the handset so you have to pay them for data transfer.
Yes, there are exceptions, but not advising customers that they can buy a phone outright and locking down retail devices customers purchase is not the answer. Maybe someday the companies will realize that.
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Ignorance is bliss
Did anyone wonder how the iPhone cost about $270 to make initially netting Apple a 50% margin but other crappy phones are supposed to be $1000?
In Europe there is a strong competition in both the phone and carrier market as you can use any phone on any network. Phones are dirt cheap and carriers actually compete as opposed to just locking people in contracts.
Whoever came up with the unsubsidized phone price of $1000 is an idiot.
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Re: Re: Re: Swiss Chz
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Verizon is EVIL...
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Re: Re: Long contracts are Un-American
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Re: Re: GPK rant
- why go to a cellco and get service?
. brand, loyalty, great selection, quality
- why go to K-mart and buy a loaf of bread?
. brand, loyalty, great selection, quality
If you want out of a contract you pay your cancellation fee and move on. If you don't like buying bread at K-mart you go to Wal-Mart and take your service there.
Seems to me, Dorpass that you need to come out of your parent’s basement more often and observe how society works, rather than beating off to female wood elves in World of Warcraft and making idiot comments on a message board.
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Early termination fees
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GET a CLUE, GET EDUCATED, Get Something....
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Verizon
Went to Alltel and got a UT150 which goes to 3.1m and it was free. Plan is $60/mo. NO problems, no hassles, warranty, insurance and replacement is in the contract. Wasn't with Verizon. Now at 850kb to 950kb/sec with 3 bars.
Verizons modems are trash.
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No Contract
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