In an apparent attempt to impede the possible migration of its customers to the forthcoming Verizon iPhone, AT&T has kicked off a new e-mail campaign which essentially reminds the current AT&T customers that it is the only carrier that can handle voice and data simultaneously for the US iPhone. AT&T probably wants to put it across to iPhone owners that the GSM and CDMA versions of the iPhone chiefly differ in terms of technology – while AT&T’s GSM network offers users the advantage of browsing the Web on the handset; Verizon’s CDMA network lacks that capability.

AT&T’s new ad, which aims at pushing to the existing AT&T customers through e-mail, features a woman with an iPhone; trying to be book movie tickets while talking with her Bluetooth hands-free kit. A brief text in the ad then informs the customers that “only AT&T's network lets you talk and surf the Web at the same time on your iPhone.”

Furthermore, in a reiteration that AT&T is the “fastest” mobile broadband network, the title of the e-mail message effectively sums up the pitch reading thus: “Free free to make a call while reading this e-mail.” In addition, the AT&T email also invites customers to avail a 25 percent discount on the purchase of some specific iPhone accessories.

The message is clearly a part of AT&T’s “stop-loss” campaign to dissuade users from switching to Verizon iPhone, with the pre-orders for corporate and other existing customers beginning from Thursday.