The T-Mobile 'Babysitter' ad is the latest shot a competing carrier has taken at Verizon Wireless. The new ad features a babysitter who charges for everything, including ordering pizza for the kids and rummaging through the closet of the parents paying her. The implication is clear: Other carriers charge too much in hidden fees. Just in case it wasn't, though, the T-Mobile 'Babysitter' ad specifically mentions Verizon. The company has been taking hits lately from Sprint which is rumored to be merging with T-Mobile.
Whether or not the merger happens it's clear that T-Mobile wants a bigger slice of the U.S. cellular market and is going after it with cheaper, flat-fee plans and its typical tongue-in-cheek advertising. The T-Mobile 'Babysitter' ad accomplishes both goals, advertising the company's family plan while pointing out Verizon's extra fees and charges.
Bad Babysitter Commercials
The T-Mobile 'Babysitter' Ad Takes a Swipe at Verizon's Fees and Taxes
Trend Themes
1. Flat-fee Wireless Plans - The trend towards offering flat-fee wireless plans with no hidden charges or fees will disrupt the wireless carrier industry.
2. Tongue-in-cheek Advertising - The trend towards using humor and playful messaging in advertising will disrupt the traditional serious tone of the telecom industry.
3. Mergers and Acquisitions - The trend towards mergers and acquisitions will disrupt the cellular market and create new opportunities for growth and consolidation.
Industry Implications
1. Wireless Carriers - Wireless carriers must adapt to the trend towards flat-fee wireless plans and innovative advertising in order to remain competitive in the market.
2. Advertising - The trend towards tongue-in-cheek advertising is disrupting the traditional serious tone of the telecom industry and creating new opportunities for creative messaging.
3. Mergers and Acquisitions - The trend towards mergers and acquisitions in the telecom industry is creating new opportunities for growth and consolidation, but also new challenges in terms of competition and regulatory scrutiny.