AT&T Moves Away From 'Up To' Marketing

from the finally! dept

For years, one of our pet peeves was the use of "up to" in telco marketing -- as in, "you get speeds up to 10 Mbps!" The "up to" lets providers basically make up whatever they want, as any speed below that number is still technically covered. However, in the last few years, some have started pushing back -- even questioning whether the use of "up to" marketing was false advertising. That's why it's nice to see that AT&T, for one, appears to be moving away from the practice. Broadband Reports notes that AT&T's new terms of service seems to show the range of speeds, rather than using "up to." That seems a lot more accurate and reasonable.
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Filed Under: marketing, truth in advertising, up to


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  • identicon
    Ima Fish, 15 Sep 2008 @ 6:56pm

    You do realize you guys called an AT&T "terms of service" agreement "reasonable"? Are you sure, absolutely sure, you've got your facts straight on this?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2008 @ 7:30pm

      Re:

      What would you consider to be not reasonable? A contract exactly the same as every other cell phone carrier? Roll over minutes? A SIM card so when you drop your phone in a puddle of water you can buy a $10 prepaid phone and slap your SIM card in it until your contract is up? What don't you like?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    PRMan, 15 Sep 2008 @ 8:29pm

    Up to

    Wow, Mike, did you forget about their "up to" 3 hour service calls already?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lawrence D'Oliveiro, 15 Sep 2008 @ 8:53pm

    Did you know ...

    ... our advertising is 99% lie-free?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    inc, 15 Sep 2008 @ 9:22pm

    I believe he was referring to that aspect being more accurate and reasonable not the ToS as a whole

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2008 @ 11:13pm

    Monty Python covered this over thirty years ago

    From Monty Python's Brand New Papperbok:

    LLAP-GOCH!

    ...the Secret Welsh ART of SELF DEFENCE that requires NO INTELLIGENCE, STRENGTH or PHYSICAL courage

    GO TO BED WITH *UP TO* ANY LUDICROUS NUMBER OF *GIRLS* YOU CARE TO THINK OF PROVIDING YOU REALIZE THIS STATEMENT IS QUITE MEANINGLESS AS THE PHRASE ‘UP TO’ CLEARLY INCLUDES THE NUMBER ‘NOUGHT’


    A twofer - Not only that, it covers the "Bush Doctrine" also:
    It is an ANCIENT Welsh ART based on a BRILLIANTLY simple I- D-E-A, which is a SECRET. The best form of DEFENCE is ATTACK (Clausewitz) and the most VITAL element of ATTACK is SURPRISE (Oscar HAMMERstein). Therefore . . . the BEST way to protect yourself AGAINST any ASSAILANT is to ATTACK him before he attacks YOU . . . Or *BETTER* . . . BEFORE the THOUGHT of doing so has EVEN OCCURRED TO HIM!!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Enrico Suarve, 16 Sep 2008 @ 1:58am

      Re: Monty Python covered this over thirty years ago

      "A twofer - Not only that, it covers the 'Bush Doctrine' also:"

      Nothing covers up the Bush Doctrine like lipstick!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Twinrova, 16 Sep 2008 @ 4:11am

    Too little. Too late.

    AT&T is dead to me, and hundreds of thousands like me. We've been treated poorly, had our pockets unnecessarily emptied, and received lackluster performance of the services they offered.

    Anyone who deals with this company knows what I'm talking about, and those who are thinking of bedding with them should think twice, especially given their current 3G issues propped by the new Apple iPhone.

    I remember a time AT&T meant something. Now, it's useless.

    You can thank the United States government for this.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Ubersurfer, 16 Sep 2008 @ 5:25am

    Years ago, when I was active in broadcasting, the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau had what they called an "up to" rule (perhaps they still have this).

    Basically, it said that in an "up to" claim, the advertiser must also state the lower end of the range, as in "from 10 to 30 percent" or "from 5 to 10 Mbps." In many cases, this "from-to" requirement made the advertisement stronger, saying that at minimum you will receive benefit x and at maximum, benefit y. What if AT&T said "you get speeds from 8 up to 10 Mpbs?" Wouldn't you want a minimum of 8 Mbps?

    Mind you, BBB rules are guidelines, not laws, and advertisers are under no legal responsibility to abide by them. Most "honest" advertisers do follow the BBB guidelines, though, as they know that the adverse publicity from not following the BBB can be detrimental to their public image and, as a result, their bottom line. (The BBB published an offenders list regularly.)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    wolf68, 16 Sep 2008 @ 9:34am

    as far as AT&T having a 3 hour hold time for support. I've never waited more than 15min. except when the storms came through and towers were knocked down then everyone was calling in.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Web Design Miami, 15 Mar 2009 @ 9:52am

    AT&T Hurtiing?

    There seem to be more networking websites hurting for business these days, especially in South Florida.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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