Telecom seeks court ad ban against Vodafone

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Telecom seeks court ad ban against Vodafone

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#874559 9-Aug-2013 13:45

boby55:
michaelmurfy:

"Best Broadband Network" - not according to Truenet

But according to Epitiro Vodafone are the fastest :)

Remarkable. Vodafone commissions a report into broadband, they know the testing is taking place but other ISPs do not.

Isn't it amazing how they came out fastest on every measure!

also, why would Epitrio only test ADSL, and not show speeds on VDSL or UFB in their 'independant' report into NZ broadband speeds? hmmm

plambrechtsen

1948 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#874603 9-Aug-2013 14:49

NonprayingMantis:
boby55:
michaelmurfy:

"Best Broadband Network" - not according to Truenet

But according to Epitiro Vodafone are the fastest :)

Remarkable. Vodafone commissions a report into broadband, they know the testing is taking place but other ISPs do not.

Isn't it amazing how they came out fastest on every measure!

also, why would Epitrio only test ADSL, and not show speeds on VDSL or UFB in their 'independant' report into NZ broadband speeds? hmmm

Edit: Sorry I missed the PDF.

Plus I thoroughly agree with the omission of VDSL and UFB services, however cable services were also excluded for completeness.

Hoofhaarted

103 posts

Master Geek

#874607 9-Aug-2013 14:53

There was a PDF at the bottom of the page, was that not it ????

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#874710 9-Aug-2013 18:33

Those ADSL differences look slight to me, possibly even within the margin of error.

And their cable network is available to less than half of Christchurch, is that 80-90 % of Wellington, and 'Kapiti' which is actually an island; what they really mean is Parapa-the-Rappa-Emu and Why-Cane. Hardly awe inspiring, especially when expansion died way back when Telstra became TelstraClear.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79309 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#876421 13-Aug-2013 12:58

Just received from Telecom:

Vodafone has made a number of changes and amendments to its ‘SuperNet’ advertising after Telecom recently commenced High Court proceedings in respect of certain aspects of the campaign. The changes are sufficient for Telecom to determine that it no longer needs to proceed with formal court proceedings at this time.

In its formal response to the proceedings filed yesterday, Vodafone confirmed that several aspects of the campaign have ceased and that qualifying statements have been added to the advertising. Vodafone claimed the absence of these qualifiers was an “oversight”, despite the fact it had refused to add them weeks earlier when this was pointed out by Telecom.

“In proceedings due to be heard next week, we were seeking an interim injunction requiring Vodafone to change certain aspects of the campaign on the basis they breached the Fair Trading Act 1986, as in our view they were misleading and likely to deceive consumers. Given the changes now made, we have achieved this immediate objective,” Telecom Retail CEO Chris Quin commented.

“However, Vodafone’s actions in this campaign raise serious concerns under the Fair Trading Act. We have lodged a complaint with the Commerce Commission and will continue to pursue that complaint with urgency.

"Technology is becoming increasingly complex and ever more important in the lives of New Zealand consumers. It’s therefore crucial that major market players act responsibly in ensuring their advertising is clear, informative and doesn’t mislead or deceive.”

Recent changes made by Vodafone include:

·         In its online/YouTube advertisement explaining the overall SuperNet concept, Vodafone has removed the word "fastest", and has also included appropriately prominent disclaimers which note that "4G is live in parts of New Zealand. A qualifying plan and capable device are required" and "Vodafone Ultra Fast Broadband is available on our cable network in parts of Wellington, Christchurch and Kapiti and coming to more places around NZ".

·         Telecom is aware that Vodafone has taken steps to ensure that all executions as a part of its SuperNet campaign that rely on its cable network have been removed from areas outside its current cable network coverage.

·         The television advertisements with which Telecom had most concern have ceased, and in relation to, for example, the "Unleash your Mobile" advertisement for the 4G service, suitably prominent qualifiers of "4G is live in parts of New Zealand" and "a qualifying plan and capable device are required" have been added.

·         Vodafone has confirmed that it no longer intends to use a ‘long form’ advertisement that was distributed in a range of New Zealand newspapers, and in respect of which Telecom had raised issues.

·         Vodafone has confirmed that billboards concerning HD video and gaming on 4G are no longer being used.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79309 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#876460 13-Aug-2013 13:32

I have also been told that Vodafone will soon issue their own release about this and I will post it here as soon as it is received.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79309 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#876465 13-Aug-2013 13:41

A statement from Vodafone:

Vodafone’s SuperNet advertising campaign will continue unchanged following Telecom’s announcement today it has dropped its court case seeking an injunction.

Vodafone Consumer Director Matt Williams says Telecom’s back-down on its court action endorses Vodafone’s fact-based SuperNet campaign.

“This campaign was about Vodafone’s fixed and mobile networks being the best, fastest and most reliable. We have the overwhelming evidence to back this up and we stand behind both our network and our campaign.

“This decision today means we can get on with delivering great services and products to our customers, without distraction. We have always been confident in our superior network and the statements this campaign makes about it.

“We received Telecom’s injunction proceedings on Thursday 1 August, which asked us to withdraw the SuperNet campaign. We responded with our evidence last night. This morning Telecom has dropped the case.”

Telecom’s claim today that it withdrew the court action following Vodafone making “a number of changes and amendments” to the campaign is insincere.

“To ensure all of our statements are crystal clear for customers, we added some extra explanations to a couple of ads, specifically around the availability of 4G and our ultra fast broadband. We were not compelled to do this as a result of this court action.

“We have not changed our overall claim that the Vodafone SuperNet is the superior network for landline, mobile, TV and broadband. Telecom is no longer challenging this.” Williams says Vodafone will be continuing the SuperNet campaign.

“We look forward to sharing with our customers more and more facts about what our network can do for them.”

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

mattwnz

20165 posts

Uber Geek

#876469 13-Aug-2013 13:44

Why don't they just let the regulators such as the CC investigate it all instead, to make sure it is all being advertised correctly.

ajobbins

5052 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#876470 13-Aug-2013 13:47

Wow those are two very different takes.

spin spin spin spin weeeeeeee

Twitter: ajobbins

Cymro

283 posts

Ultimate Geek

#876509 13-Aug-2013 14:40

mattwnz: Why don't they just let the regulators such as the CC investigate it all instead, to make sure it is all being advertised correctly.

They are doing, the ComCom are continuing to investigate the seperate Fair Trading case raised at the same time as the injunction.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#876540 13-Aug-2013 15:33

"Vodafone’s SuperNet advertising campaign will continue unchanged following Telecom’s announcement today it has dropped its court case seeking an injunction. "

....

"we added some extra explanations to a couple of ads, specifically around the availability of 4G and our ultra fast broadband. We were not compelled to do this as a result of this court action. "

both sentences from VF's own press release.

so...... are they changing them or not?

Inphinity

2780 posts

Uber Geek

#876544 13-Aug-2013 15:41

freitasm: A statement from Vodafone:

Vodafone’s SuperNet advertising campaign will continue unchanged following Telecom’s announcement today it has dropped its court case seeking an injunction.

...

“To ensure all of our statements are crystal clear for customers, we added some extra explanations to a couple of ads, specifically around the availability of 4G and our ultra fast broadband. We were not compelled to do this as a result of this court action.

It's unchanged but we added some stuff. This is not unchanged. Good work on the contradictory PR spin Vodafone. And really, choosing to do so had nothing at all to do with the dispute and the case? uh huh, of course.

old3eyes

9120 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#876588 13-Aug-2013 16:49

I seem to remember Telecom using the name "SuperNet" for one of it's large PBX systems in the mid 80s . Mitel SX2000 from memory..

Regards,

Old3eyes

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#876594 13-Aug-2013 16:57

A statement from Vodafone:
Telecom’s claim today that it withdrew the court action following Vodafone making “a number of changes and amendments” to the campaign is insincere.

“To ensure all of our statements are crystal clear for customers, we added some extra explanations to a couple of ads, specifically around the availability of 4G and our ultra fast broadband. We were not compelled to do this as a result of this court action.

Telecom said that Vodafone made it aware of the changes "In its formal response to the proceedings filed yesterday". Telecom never said that Vodafone made those changes because of the court action, just that they were informed of the changes during that process.

Me thinks Vodafone doth protest too much.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6