Sprint isn’t giving in to the request and is proceeding to argue independent test results. I quite frankly don’t care whether they give in, keep the claim, or change it to say that they’re the best thing since sliced bread. I just want reliable service and calls that actually go through. [Electronista]

You think Apple is going to take its fancy phone being relegated to the Island of Misfit Toys in a Verizon ad laying down? Nope. These two new iPhone ads seem to gun right at the big V.

[Engadget]

When I think escalating mega mobile phone carrier ad war, I think actor Luke Wilson. Oh wait, no I don’t, and yet here he is, again, striking back on behalf of AT&T against Verizon Wireless.

Now, good on AT&T for fighting back with more ads and not more silly lawsuits and all, but the Verizon holiday ad lineup is pretty strong, and I don’t see many Verizon customers losing sleep over Luke Wilson covering a giant coverage map with post cards.

As tipster Eric notes, AT&T selectively does not mention Edge, 3G or voice/data distinctions in this commercial, opting instead for vague blanket statements like “AT&T covers 97 per cent of all Americans – that’s over 300 million people.”

Just as AT&T’s injunction for the Verizon “There’s a map for that” ads to be taken off-air was denied, the company’s own pugnacious messages started playing. I somehow doubt that these “Side by Side” commercials are gonna make Verizon cry.

US District Court Judge Timothy Batten Sr remarked that people might “misunderstand” the commercials, “but that doesn’t mean they’re misleading”. He continued to add that “most people who are watching TV are semi-catatonic” to begin with. Let’s hope his train of thought remains during the follow-up hearing on December 16, because the case is starting to lose any entertainment value. [AJC via Engadget]

[Digg via Consumerist]

The post-paid plans only rollover for the month after they are due to expire, so you can’t stockpile a heap of minutes and then spend a week on the phone to your Nanna in Brazil. The rolled over minutes are also only used if you happen to exceed that months quota, meaning that you should hopefully always have enough time for talking and texting.

There are rollover options for data as wellThe plans don’t actually let you roll over your data allowance, although they do include international calls and texting. And if you’re an iPhone user, there are a couple of dedicated rollover plans for you.

Check out Virgin’s site for a complete run down on the different plans.

[Virgin Rollover Cap plans]

When your lawsuits sound like press releases, it’s because they probably are (not that we care, the whole case is pretty entertaining). Check out this opening statement from Verizon:

AT&T did not file this lawsuit because Verizon’s “There’s A Map For That” advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon’s ads are true and the truth hurts.

YA BURNT, AT&T! Verizon goes on to accuse AT&T of failing to adequately expand its 3G coverage to match demand for its smartphones, which is sort of a hard point for AT&T to argue. Verizon claims that its advertisements are “literally true” (instead of philosophically true? Metaphorically true? True in the sense in which it is used in animal husbandry, as in purebred? What?) and not misleading, and that AT&T has failed to provide customers with an accurate map of its coverage. It’s pretty great, really — if you’ve ever wished the American legal system was more like it is on Law and Order, this whole statement is a gift. [Engadget]

There are two main problems: We like bills to be consistent, and we’re risk-averse consumers.

To the first point, Sprint tried to offer a plan in 2004 where 300 minutes cost $US35, and $US2.50 for each additional 50 minutes. Seems great to me, no outrageous overage charges. But customers didn’t like it because their bills would vary so much from month-to-month, so Sprint switched back to age-old tiered minutes plans.

Because we like consistent billing, the carriers institute ridiculous overage charges to convince us to spend up. That way we don’t have to worry about any unforeseen costs, even if the fixed price plan ends up costing more than a variable pricing structure would.

The article also goes into how stupid expensive text message rates are subsidising falling voice revenues, how wireless carriers would love to stop subsidising phones, and more.

I know the average Gizmodo reader would like nothing more than to pay as little per minute as possible, but the average consumer thinks differently.

What’s interesting is that this wholesale mentality does work, at least in terms of raw pricing. One minute of talk time costs 5c, and the average text message costs 1c. According to the article, that’s the lowest average pricing in the developed world. The minutes do come at a bulk discount, it’s just a matter of whether or not you use all of them.

I’ll leave it to you commenters to discuss, but it’s a good read into how wireless pricing in America got so complicated. [New York Times]

The good news, if there is any, is that the early termination fee only applies to early termination. Surprised you there, didn’t it? The bad news is, what Mark said about the ditch fee being $US110 in the 23rd month is true. And pretty much anything you’d want to buy from Verizon these days — not just Droids and BlackBerrys but netbooks too — are locked into this new fee.

Verizon is pretty clear that this is about recouping the cost of the subsidy; a gadget lands on the “advanced” list when it has a combination of features that “drive up the cost”. Only wireless modems and dumbphones (below referred to as feature phones) appear to be exempt. Here are the details from a spokesman:

The higher tier of early termination fee applies to a device category that generally includes smartphones, netbooks and other advanced devices purchased at a subsidized price under contract. Please remember, feature phones still carry a $US175 early termination fee when purchased at a subsidized price with a new customer agreement.

Advanced devices include a combination of advanced capabilities that combined drive up the cost of the device, including premium HTML browser; high-resolution MP camera with optical zoom; dual processor chipsets; WiFi; very high-resolution displays, and/or operating systems such as BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Palm, or Android. The category also includes netbooks. (Modems will still carry a $US175 ETF.)

We are informing customers at the point of purchase/contract renewal—whether on line, in person or over the phone. On Sunday, when the new EFT takes effect, we will post the list of advanced devices.

By the way, it is important to note that this change has no impact on customers with previously signed contracts, and as a practical matter has no impact on the majority of customers who choose to complete the terms of their contracts.

Remember, if you sign a long-term contract and complete it, there’s no early termination fee. In addition, customers always have the option of buying any device at full retail without an early termination fee.