AT&T rebuked over misleading ad for nonexistent satellite phone calling
AT&T faced criticism for misleading ads about satellite phone services, prompting a NARB ruling to clarify that such services are not currently available. AT&T agreed to revise its advertisements.
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AT&T has been criticized for misleading advertisements suggesting that it offers satellite phone calling services, which are not currently available. The ads, featuring actor Ben Stiller, implied that customers could make calls via satellite, despite the fact that AT&T's partnership with AST SpaceMobile for such services is still in development, with the first satellites set to launch in September. T-Mobile challenged the advertisement, leading to a ruling from the National Advertising Review Board (NARB) that found AT&T's claims misleading. The NARB recommended that AT&T either discontinue the misleading claims or modify them to clarify that satellite calling is not available at this time. Although AT&T agreed to comply with the ruling, it expressed disagreement with the conclusion. The original ad included disclaimers that were deemed insufficiently clear, prompting AT&T to revise the text to more explicitly state that "satellite calling is not currently available." The NARB emphasized that humor in advertising does not exempt companies from ensuring their claims are truthful and non-misleading.
- AT&T's ads misled consumers about the availability of satellite calling services.
- The NARB ruled against AT&T, recommending clearer communication regarding service availability.
- T-Mobile filed a challenge that led to the NARB's decision.
- AT&T has revised its advertisement to include clearer disclaimers.
- The ruling highlights the importance of truthful advertising, even in humorous contexts.
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