Many iPhone users are very disappointed with AT&T’s 3G coverage. Verizon’s current advertising campaign pokes fun at AT&T’s spotty 3G coverage.

AT&T’s response points out that voice and data cover 97% of U.S. residents where they live and work. The problem is that AT&T’s touting statistics that include its slower data networks. The iPhone 3G and 3Gs automatically switch to the slower EDGE network when 3G isn’t available. So while technically they are covered by AT&T’s data network, users can’t surf the web at a reasonable speed.

Many of those covered by 3G in AT&T’s coverage map can’t reliably use 3G. For example, my San Francisco neighborhood is covered by 3G according to AT&T’s map, but I can’t make a call from my home using AT&T’s 3G network without it dropping. I often times can’t access the Internet when I’m at a local cafe or restaurant.

You can visit AT&T’s web site to read the response to Verizon’s ads and check out the coverage map yourself.

If you want to skip visiting AT&T you can read the memo 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:
o 3G. 233 million people or 75% of the population are covered by AT&T’s 3G network, the nation’s fastest.
o EDGE. 301 million people or more than 96% of the population are covered by EDGE.
+ 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
o 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
Additional Resources

* View Coverage Map
* Additional Network News

AT&T Tries to Set Record Straight w/ Verizon ‘There’s a Map for That’ Ads is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.