Commercials in the mobile industry: Effective?

As much as we hate commercials, they have a point and for the most part serve their purpose. Let's face it. Network television shows need a break. Some of the shows put on TV today would lose their usefulness fast without commercials. That's just the fact. If any company has conquered the concept of attracting your attention it has to be Aflac. Let's face it, break dancing ducks that give you cash are in! Pigeons who put their wings out and say "where's the doctors boooyyy?" are in! Really in this day and age that's all you can ask for. The Superbowl is notorious for attempting to do just that. Some hit and most miss. Dogs the size of a Louis Vuitton hand bag kicking in screen doors pretty much get that message across, but what about the mobile scene?

Hit the jump and we'll talk about it...
Mobile commercials effective? You can make the case for with ease. There's a huge supporting fact. The 2000s have been very kind to the mobile landscape. Some will make the argument that there was an evolution in the industry. Yes, but if a phone called the Razr can make it's way into the hands of hundreds of thousands of baby boomers, then you know we've come a long way. Having said that, baby boomers in the 2000s have been the last generation holding on to those clickers. If you're looking for commercial effectiveness. You found the last generation you can turn to in order to sell a product without an attention deficit. So 30 second spots still have their place and will for some time. They won't go away for the foreseeable future but the matter will turn to who or what company does it best.

Which companies have made the best effort in the gladiator area of commercials over the past several years? We'll start off with Sprint:

From about 5 years ago. You can't miss the age of this commercial. Just look at the device. According to the youth in the know, flip phones do not equal going out on a date. Yeah, it's debatable, but regardless this commercial is funny. Funny is hands down effective. Did it translate to more sales of this device. Maybe, maybe not but it has you thinking about Sprint.

No....not funny at all. As a matter this one is boring. More cats? How about less. Even if you think cats are cute and yes, even a bland guy like me can admit as such, but this commercial and the point it's supposed to get across failed as soon as the first cat ran across the screen.

T-Mobile has been more creative than not over the years and the proof is in the pudding.

The Liverpool station commercial is fun. Undeniable fun that most people across all age groups can relate.

And T-Mobile's creativity doesn't stop there.

You combine a commercial like this with a solid phone like the myTouch 4G and units will ring the register. Prior to HTC Sensation the myTouch 4G was T-Mobile's hottest selling device.

Then things start to get a little more buttoned up when you talk AT&T.

Mistake number 1: attempting to take a shot at the competitions creativity. Nothing is worse than a sore loser and this commercial has sore loser written all over it. AT&T's marketing department would have been better served attempting to come up with something that defines them as opposed to focusing on T-Mobile's Liverpool station success. Especially if you're not going to offer up something just as good if not better while throwing a jab at a competitor.

Mistake number 2: don't try so hard. It's just an ad. Lighten up.

Those two commercials alone proves how hard it is to find something that makes you think AT&T=Good Phones=Good Service. Stick to the point and don't go to the extremes, but with AT&T's tattered reputation for service provided, I can just about understand the overkill effort in the commercials.

Then there's Verizon Wireless:

The guy in the picture at the top of this story? Yeah, can you hear me now? Sure that guy. Those commercials were a run away success. For good reason. It was down right to the point in an era where dropped calls were an issue for most carriers for the better part of the previous decade. That's what you call paying the bucks it takes to get something done right and Verizon is not afraid to spend on ads.

Now this was textbook Verizon. Straight to the point and they spent millions upon millions running this ad and a lot more like them. You can't argue with the results neither. Those devices and more carrying the DROID branding moved millions. (DROID is Verizon Wireless marketing brand name for a variety of their high end Android software smartphone devices)

The concept of this commercial is lame. Let's face the facts, but at the end of the day it was a well put together production and it drove home a point. Would you shoot your phone? Well that depends so let me retract the question, but do you want speed? Sure! Verizon's marketing department deserves accolade after accolade for selling us the obvious.

If you're looking for most creativity out of all these commercials. T-Mobile is a clear winner. Also a winner is Verizon. They spend money but make it as well. You know their service is the priciest yet they lead the way in subscriber count. That says a lot. Standing off to the side on this battle by themselves are AT&T and Sprint. They have a lot to work on when it comes to message.

Message, that being as important as it is also comes with one last disclaimer to you the customer in spite of this story. When watching ads about mobile carriers, phones and products. Beware of the brutal exaggerated claims of fastest, largest, first and most reliable. At the end of the day one service is just as good as the next depending on what your pocket will allow you stomach.