You’ve seen this map before. (I just did, a few weeks ago at Lollapalooza in Chicago):

…well, what the hell?

This map makes no sense to me as a marketing tool. Why do I care? Why is it important that there will be 145 new markets in 2011? Or that Texas seems about 60% covered compared to Georgia’s 100%?

I use my phone at my house, at the office, and downtown at the bars. With little exception. Verizon, your service sucks on my campus. I don’t care that the folks in Miltonville, Mississippi get five-bar reception at 4G speeds in 3D. And it especially doesn’t matter because even if I wanted to call there, it’s not like I need to be on the same network as the receiving party.

So why are phone companies still using this map in their promotional materials?

You could argue that the lowest common denominator of people seek the aid of infographics to help making decisions. I still say we could do better. Couldn’t we fairly easily make localized maps for each local ad placement? This seems like an easy, effective promotional campaign. Or would that be too damning of cell phone carriers’ spotty coverage?