T-Mobile and Verizon spent the early part of the year sparring over who made the most egregious claims to customers. While the spat was initiated by Verizon, T-Mobile was quick to countersue. Ultimately, both carriers realized that it wasn’t worth going back and forth and decided to bury the hatchet.
No, you are fooling customers
Verizon accused T-Mobile of exaggerating how much switchers would save, arguing that T-Mobile's marketing system overvalued its own perks while downplaying Verizon's benefits.
T-Mobile fired back, claiming Verizon engaged in many of the same practices it accused T-Mobile of. Verizon scored an early win in March when a judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking T-Mobile's "Save Over $1,000" ad campaign.
Reuters says that the companies have resolved their lawsuits and established a framework for handling similar disputes in the future.
Why have T-Mobile and Verizon returned to out-of-court dispute resolution?
9 Votes
Did the carriers regret going legal?
One of the ads T-Mobile didn't approve of. | Image by Verizon
Carriers typically rely on the independent watchdog National Advertising Review Board (NARB) to sort out advertising issues. It's a self-regulating, non-governmental body, and compliance is voluntary. If an advertiser fails to follow recommendations, it's sometimes referred to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
T-Mobile shot back days later with a countersuit highlighting deceptive claims made by Verizon and its attempts to silence customers who wanted to call it out for the bait-and-switch behavior.
Why stop now?
It's not clear why the two backed down, but the reasoning isn't hard to guess. Lawsuits are expensive and unpredictable. Besides, by slinging mud at each other, T-Mobile and Verizon were inadvertently drawing more attention to practices that turn consumers off.
Calling a truce
With SpaceX closing in on them and MVNOs out for blood, T-Mobile and Verizon have bigger fish to fry. In the meantime, they have gone back to NARB to settle their remaining grievances.
T-Mobile and Verizon can't stop berating each other for making deceptive claims:
Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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