Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1984
AT&T sued by Sprint, must defend decision to tell users that 4G is "5G E"
Sprint is suing AT&T, alleging that AT&T's misleading "5G E" advertising campaign violates laws prohibiting false advertising and deceptive acts and practices.
AT&T renamed a large portion of its 4G network, calling it "5G E," for "5G Evolution." But as we've written, what AT&T calls 5G E consists of technologies that are part of the years-old 4G LTE-Advanced standard and are already used by Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint on their 4G networks. Despite that, AT&T has been advertising this supposed upgrade to 5G E and even changing network indicators on smartphones from 4G to 5G E.AT&T decides 4G is now "5G," starts issuing icon-changing software updates
"By making the false claim that it is offering a 5G wireless network where it offers only a 4G LTE Advanced network, AT&T is attempting to secure an unfair advantage in the saturated wireless market," Sprint wrote in a complaint filed yesterday in US District Court for the Southern District of New York. "AT&T's false and misleading statements deceive consumers into believing that AT&T now operates a 5G wireless network and, through this deception, AT&T seeks to induce consumers to purchase or renew AT&T's services when they might otherwise have purchased Sprint's services."
Sprint alleged that AT&T violated a US law prohibiting false advertising and New York state laws against deceptive acts and practices and false advertising. Sprint asked the court for monetary damages and an injunction preventing AT&T from using 5G or 5G E branding "until the wireless network that AT&T advertises as '5GE,' '5G E,' or '5G Evolution,' or any designation containing '5G,' complies with 3GPP 5G standards." Sprint's complaint cites reporting from Ars and other news outlets.AT&T defends misleading "5G" network icons on 4G phones
[...] AT&T continued its defiance today.
"We understand why our competitors don't like what we are doing, but our customers love it," AT&T said in a statement provided to Ars. "We introduced 5G Evolution more than two years ago, clearly defining it as an evolutionary step to standards-based 5G. 5G Evolution and the 5G E indicator simply let customers know when their device is in an area where speeds up to twice as fast as standard LTE are available. That's what 5G Evolution is, and we are delighted to deliver it to our customers."
AT&T said it "will fight this lawsuit while continuing to deploy 5G Evolution in addition to standards-based mobile 5G," and that "customers want and deserve to know when they are getting better speeds."
AT&T also took a shot at Sprint's claims that it can't deploy a robust 5G network unless US regulators approve its proposed merger with T-Mobile.
"Sprint will have to reconcile its arguments to the FCC that it cannot deploy a widespread 5G network without T-Mobile while simultaneously claiming in this suit to be launching 'legitimate 5G technology imminently,'" AT&T said.
Previously: AT&T Misleads Customers by Updating Phones With Fake 5G Icon
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Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1984
AT&T misleads customers by updating phones with fake 5G icon
AT&T has updated three smartphones from Samsung and LG to make them show 5G connectivity logos, even though none of them are capable of connecting to 5G networks.
Now, when the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, LG V30, or LG V40 are connected to portions of AT&T's LTE network that have received some speed-boosting updates, they'll show an icon that says "5G E" instead of "LTE."
That "E" in the "5G" logo is supposed to tip you off that this isn't real 5G — just some marketing nonsense. But there's no way of knowing that just from looking at the logo. The "E" is smaller than the rest of the icon. And even if you do learn that "5G E" stands for "5G Evolution," it isn't immediately clear what that means.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by RandomFactor on Sunday February 10 2019, @04:49PM (5 children)
Customers love getting the new 5g thing. They do not realize they are just getting a 5g indicator without actually getting 5g.
Marking 4g vs 4g advanced in some fashion (e.g. LTE+ or something like that) is reasonable, marking 4G Advanced as 5G Evolution is intentionally deceptive.
AT&T should lose. This is intentionally deceptive labeling couched in lawyerspeak to try and get away with it and gain an advantage over competition based on misleading the public.
В «Правде» нет известий, в «Известиях» нет правды
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 10 2019, @07:08PM (1 child)
exactly what i came to say. everyone with half a brain can see this from a mile away. if the judge doesn't smack the shit out of them we know why.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday February 11 2019, @07:29AM
> if the judge doesn't smack the shit out of them we know why.
Don't underestimate AT&T lawyers. "5G E" does not exist, it's not a standard, so it means whatever they decide it means.
Is it stupid, misleading, and should be illegal in a country with proper consumer protections ? Sure ! Slam dunk ! We all agree, and so will the judge.
But what does the law say, is the judge going to use common sense rather than follow the law, and how long does it take to go through appeals, while the customers fall for it ?
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Sunday February 10 2019, @11:11PM (1 child)
"This is intentionally deceptive labeling couched in lawyerspeak to try and get away with it and gain an advantage over competition based on misleading the public."
Don't most big tel-cos and ISPs do the same? I think they just call it "marketing".
When life isn't going right, go left.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Monday February 11 2019, @01:59AM
When AT&T calls, they always talk that way. No one knows what they are saying.
I thought it went without saying that when AT&T says anything, consider the source.
Just saying what my personal take on that company.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 10 2019, @11:24PM
With their argument, they should be allowed to call it 8G. After all, it is twice as fast as 4G.
This is also an interesting intersection with history. The reason why they have 4G LTE designations is that many carriers put out "4G" networks that are not compliant with the 4G specification. So they had to call them "LTE" so consumers could tell them apart from the real thing. Interestingly enough, not all "4G LTE" networks are compliant either, because the carriers saw the writing on the wall and started marketing themselves as "4G LTE" before being compliant with the specification, so you really have to look at the detail to see what you are really getting.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 10 2019, @05:42PM (3 children)
In AT&T's defense, that vast vast majority of Americans will eat up whatever bullshit they are fed by marketing departments. They are so well trained to do this that it amazes me how Trump failed to let professionals serve up his lies.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday February 10 2019, @07:54PM (2 children)
It's not just Americans unfortunately.
We have lots of really creepy propaganda commercials on TV where I live, and people just seem to accept them.
When a beloved retired rugby player is telling you that the farming industry does not pollute the nation's waterways you can bet your bottom dollar he's lying.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Monday February 11 2019, @02:02AM (1 child)
Or when some old goat hawks funeral insurance and reverse mortgages to seniors.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Monday February 11 2019, @02:31AM
Yes, those are shitty too, but at least the insurance guys are actually selling a product.
The farming shills and the fishing industry liers are trying to convince people that black is white. It's working too.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by pipedwho on Sunday February 10 2019, @06:21PM
I love how they make a big deal about reconciling any ‘iminiment legitimate 5G’ with ‘widespread’ deployment of the same. Ie. widespread coverage vs spotty coverage. What part of this do the AT&T lawyers not understand?
Now, whether or not the Sprint’s claim is not just another pile of bullshit to justify the merger is another story.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 10 2019, @10:04PM (3 children)
This week I changed my indicator to 10G. In a few months I plan on rolling out my ICO. Customers will LOVE it.
Anyone want to invest?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 10 2019, @10:18PM
"Anyone want to invest?"
Frankly, I just want a provider to give me the honest to God 4G that I'm already paying for, rather than the 3G+ish service that I am getting now. I might be willing to invest in that.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 11 2019, @08:29PM
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 12 2019, @03:18AM
Why not turn it all the way up to 11?