Sprint Goes For AT&T's Jugular, Targets iPhone Users In New Ad

Palm and network operator partner Sprint have leveled their sites directly onto iPhone users. The new ad reads, in part, "Your iPhone contract is up. Perfect Timing." Next to these words is a picture of the Palm Pre resting against an eaten Apple.It's a bold ad that echoes words from Elevation Partners Investor Roger MacNamee, who said that iPhone owners would flock to the Pre in droves. Back in March, MacNamee said:

• "June 29, 2009, is the two-year anniversary of the first shipment of the iPhone. Not one of those people will still be using an iPhone a month later. Think about it -- if you bought the first iPhone, you bought it because you wanted the coolest product on the market. Your two-year contract has just expired. Look around. Tell me what they're going to buy."
• "The Pre going to be a million times -- well, not a million times -- several times faster than the iPhone."
• "The Pre is going to run rings around [Apple] on the Web."

Web sites have been testing the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and Pre directly against one another for the last week. Depending on which test you're looking at, the iPhone 3GS edges out the Pre in the majority of the drills. MacNamee wasn't counting on that.

The new ad reads, in full:

The Palm Pre does things the iPhone can't. Run multiple applications at the same time with real-time updates and even save $1200 over two years. It's the perfect time to join the Now Network, America's most trusted 3G network, bringing you the first and only 4G network from a national carrier.

Pitting both the original iPhone and Palm Pre head-to-head on a spec-by-spec basis is a bit unfair, as that original iPhone is two years old now. The iPhone 3GS is a much more formidable piece of hardware, and has lots of features that the Palm Pre doesn't (video capture, compass, etc.).

Sprint is sure to point out that its plans will allow users to save some money each month, depending on how they configure their services.

Is the Pre good enough to convince original iPhone adopters to switch? Well, those iPhone owners have had two full years to evaluate AT&T's network service, so if they stick with AT&T and get a new iPhone 3GS, they're betting on the devil they know.

Moving to the Pre and Sprint would require them to change up everything. Many people left their carriers for the iPhone. Are they doing the same for the Pre?