Tag: asa
Apple forced to drop misleading iPhone ads
Turns out that the 3G iPhone isn’t “really fast” after all. In fact, by saying so, Apple broke Advertising Standards Agency rules.The ASA upheld complaints by 17 people who said that their iPhone 3G was anything but fast, and that the TV advert had misled them.
The ad, if you’ve not seen it, goes on and on about how the iPhone 3G is ‘really fast’, and shows maps and news sites appearing in milliseconds. 3G’s good, but even in central London it’s not that good. Apple, therefore, will not be able to broadcast the advert again in its current state.
No word whether a new version of the ad will include 20-second ‘loading’ pauses and random Safari crashes.
ASA’s ajudication (via the Big British Castle)
Related posts: Apple to be sued over iPhone web browser because it makes pages smaller | Apple releases iPhone firmware 2.2: better maps, Mail, Safari, podcasts, call quality
Vodafone radio ad banned, it zips through T&Cs too fast
The Advertising Standards Agency has been busy vetting technology ads recently. No sooner has it finished rapping Apple for misleading iPhone ads, or Virgin Media for sending bullet-hole mail through people’s letterboxes, then it’s on Vodafone’s case for blurting out the terms and conditions too quickly on a recent radio ad.
A whale-eared listener complained to the watchdog because the words were so fast that it was hard to hear the message. To be honest, I’m of the opinion that there are always several reams worth of finely printed contractual legalese attached to any product, and am happy for the cursory nod any radio advertiser gives to them to be over with as possible…
Advertising watchdog clears BT Gremlins ad following complaints that it gives children nightmares
The Advertising Standards Authority has given the all clear to a recent BT TV advertisement after some people complained that a recent ad featuring Gremlins wreaking havoc on a hapless office worker was frightening children and giving them nightmares. The ad stars Peter Jones who you may know from such thrilling business TV shows as Dragon’s Den.
Virgin Media's broadband speed claims misled the public, ASA rules
A recent advertising campaign for Virgin Media’s broadband packages has been deemed misleading to the public, because it didn’t make its traffic management policies plain enough.
BT complained about Virgin Media’s “hate to wait” campaign, which claimed it possible to download a half-hour TV show in under 26 minutes on their “up to 2Mbps” ‘M’ package. The size of the TV show used in the ad was 341MB, which exceeds the 300MB peak-time download threshold…
Sky warned over broadband speed claims – had better not do it again or else
Virgin Media and two members of the public complained to the Advertising Standards Authority over a Sky Broadband advert which boasted its service is faster than Virgin’s.
Being a Virgin Media broadband user myself I can attest that it almost certainly is, as is a letter taped to the back of a tortoise, but that’s…
Be Unlimited to change 24Mbps advertising claim after advertising standards complaint
Be Broadband are the latest broadband service provider to be rapped by the Advertising Standards Agency for potentially misleading advertising. The problem is that the speed of ADSL2 which theoretically provides up to 24Mbps falls off very quickly anywhere from…
