Apple ads dodge the network coverage issues

According to the folks at Engadget, Apple will tonight roll out two new ads that counter Verizon's attack on the iPhone and the AT&T network it is bound to. What I think is interesting about these ads is how they attempt to dodge the point that Verizon is making that, basically the AT&T network, and because it's tied to it, the iPhone, sucks. Instead, the ads point out how you can use voice and data simultaneously on the iPhone. Yes ... but ... In a way these ads play into the hands of Verizon because while it's true that you can make voice calls and use 3G on the iPhone, if you happen to be in a area that's devoid of 3G coverage and have to resort to EDGE, you can't do voice and data together.

Apple iPhone Ad - Did You See My Email? from Arik Hesseldahl on Vimeo.

Apple iPhone Ad - What Time's The Movie? from Arik Hesseldahl on Vimeo.

The feedback that I and others are getting from AT&T users paints a pretty poor picture of the network, and if Apple wants to start defending a position that seems indefensible, it's only going to annoy those users suffering from poor performance even more.