What happens when T-Mobile and AT&T duke it out on Twitter over a potential customer?
It's not often you see two companies battling it out in public — let alone in front of a combined 600,000 people on Twitter. But when you do, you can expect sparks to fly.
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Jay Rooney took to the microblogging site this week to question why he's still has service with AT&T, which charges through the nose for overseas data. T-Mobile doesn't, and recently pitched unlimited data and texting worldwide in efforts to stand out from the crowd while appeasing the millions of travelers on its roster.
Rooney's one, simple tweet was enough of a catalyst for AT&T and T-Mobile to engage in a virtual fist-fight for the hand of a customer, which saw T-Mobile's boss enter the mix and win over not one, but likely many more potential customers.
AT&T and T-Mobile, the second and fourth largest U.S. cellular companies respectively, used to be close friends. In 2011, the two companies proposed a merger for $39 billion that would see the combined company take on Verizon for the first-place slot. But the Justice Dept. blocked the proposal claiming it would cripple the country's cellular competition. The deal eventually collapsed — both companies taking a financial hit as a result — leaving the two firms well and truly off each other's the Christmas card list.
Since then, the two firms have taken almost every opportunity to take pot-shots at each other. At T-Mobile's Uncarrier event in March, executives mocked AT&T's "confusing" data plans and network speeds, among other things.
Here's what happened in the latest AT&T v. T-Mobile war of words.
Just found out that @tmobile doesn't charge extra for overseas data. What the hell am I still doing with @ATT?
— Jay Rooney (@RamblingRooney) November 26, 2013
T-Mobile immediately, without missing a beat, jumps in to help — not without throwing a right-hook at AT&T, calling it an "old-school" carrier.
@RamblingRooney You know there is an alternative to old-school wireless carriers, right? It’s called @TMobile, the #uncarrier ^ Lisa A
— T-Mobile (@TMobile) November 26, 2013
Rooney seems to be upbeat about the prospect of T-Mobile's service.
.@TMobile Trust me, Lisa - the minute my contract is up, I'm switching to you guys. It's a no-brainer. #uncarrier indeed!
— Jay Rooney (@RamblingRooney) November 26, 2013
But then the cellular turf war begins as AT&T catches on to the T-Mobile's subversive customer snatch and enters the fray.
@RamblingRooney Resist the urge, Jay. We heard its dark, scary and no one can ever hear you. No one.
— AT&T (@ATT) November 26, 2013
At which point Rooney plays objective commentator:
Oh, snap - @ATT and @TMobile are totally duking it out on Twitter over me. This is awesome.
— Jay Rooney (@RamblingRooney) November 26, 2013
He considers AT&T's pitch, but casually suggests he should get something out of it.
@ATT Hmmm... I could be persuaded by a discount on my data plan
— Jay Rooney (@RamblingRooney) November 26, 2013
T-Mobile, feeling a little undercut, takes a swipe at AT&T with a scathing subtweet, and ups its offer to Rooney.
@ATT Did your kindergarten panel write that for you? @RamblingRooney Global data at no extra charge vs. $$$$$$ #ItsNotComplicated
— T-Mobile (@TMobile) November 26, 2013
To which Rooney replies:
@TMobile @ATT A most compelling argument!
— Jay Rooney (@RamblingRooney) November 26, 2013
But AT&T wants to downplay the rivalry with its cellular frenemy.
@RamblingRooney No gloves out over here, Jay. It's too close to the holidays to be so disgruntled. #HappyCarrier
— AT&T (@ATT) November 26, 2013
And then things get really interesting when T-Mobile chief executive John Legere, a seasoned tweeter, throws down the corporate gauntlet with this zinger:
@TMobile @ATT @RamblingRooney @RamblingRooney bet @ATT’s CEO isn’t going to join the convo. Come join the #WirelessRevolution! #Uncarrier
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) November 27, 2013
And that seals the deal. Rooney's convinced.
@JohnLegere You definitely caught my attention, good sir. Going to a @tmobile store to inquire tomorrow!
— Jay Rooney (@RamblingRooney) November 27, 2013
But others watching the two companies duke it out from the sidelines are starting to throw their weight behind T-Mobile.
@JohnLegere @RamblingRooney - I've been thinking of leaving @Verizon for @TMobile for a few months now; and I think this tweet clinched it.
— Danial Hallock (@Kysimir) November 27, 2013
And another enters the ring:
@JohnLegere @RamblingRooney @Verizon @TMobile Just jumped from VZW to T-Mo. Good so far. No contract, so if you don't like it, switch back!
— Benjamin Ahronheim (@DupaUnit) November 27, 2013
Legere's just scored himself at least two new customers thanks to his tactical tweeting.
@Kysimir @RamblingRooney @Verizon @TMobile hooray!
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) November 27, 2013
T-Mobile's official Twitter account, the social face of the company, tweets out so others following the cellular company are shown what good public relations looks like.
@Gbarb18 We totally agree with you, and couldn't be happier to have you as a part of the T-Mobile family! :) ^Julian B
— T-Mobile (@TMobile) November 27, 2013
Another disgruntled cellular customer, Gabe Guerrero, sees what's going on and throws in their two cents.
@RamblingRooney in the middle of leaving @Sprint for @ATT , but maybe I will reconsider before I port my number @TMobile
— Gabe Guerrero (@Gabriel3rd) November 27, 2013
And then something incredible happens as the conversation snowballs further. Sprint gets dragged into the fray as others' look at their own personal circumstances and consider jumping ship to a rival.
@Gabriel3rd We definitely don't want you to leave us! What's going on with services? Reach out to me, I'm here for you! *JTA
— Sprint Care (@sprintcare) November 27, 2013
Guerrero explains his situation, and showing his frustration threatens a complete walk-out.
@sprintcare wrong line upgraded. I needed it ported. Forced to pay cancellation fee. Taking all other other lines with me
— Gabe Guerrero (@Gabriel3rd) November 27, 2013
Sprint, looking a little desperate, throws out all the stops to prevent a customer bailing on their service.
@Gabriel3rd Not good to hear! Have you already cancelled services with us? I would like to help you out today! *JTA
— Sprint Care (@sprintcare) November 27, 2013
There's a lesson to be learned from this. Customer engagement through carefully defined and considered strategy is all good and well. But when a company chief executive, like John Legere, who has a penchant for saying it how it is in a brutally honest and frank way (trust me on this one) gets right down to the customer-facing level, it certainly doesn't hurt.
In this case, it will likely result in not just one new customer, but many. That's social engagement and marketing done right, kids. Class dismissed.