AT&T Says They’re Fixing Coverage Where iPhones Have Marked the Spot

For all of the complaints levied against Apple for the iPhone, ask most users, and you’ll likely only hear about on problem.  Their problems have nothing to do with the App Store or lack of multitasking until recently (well, for the most part).  The biggest problem is with the US exclusive carrier, AT&T, and how dismal the coverage can be in many places.

Don't throw your iPhone in frustration just yet, AT&T says better service is (slowly) on its way.

Last December AT&T decided to start doing something about that issue with it’s new iPhone app, “Mark the Spot.”  Mark the Spot is an app that allows users to tell AT&T exactly where their phone had a problem with the network such as dropping a call, slow connection speed, no coverage, and other issues you’d typically have with a 3G phone.  Now it looks like AT&T is starting to do something about the problems {Electronista}.

Now, with the release of the iPhone 4 looming, AT&T is letting customers know that they’re trying to fix the problems.  Those who have reported issues with the coverage in areas are getting text messages from AT&T telling them that area will have “additional network capacity” within 60-90 days.  Not exactly the fastest the company could be moving, but still relatively fast.

Perhaps this is what Steve Jobs meant at the D8 conference when he proclaimed that by the end of this summer things will be getting better {All Thing D}.  Paired with the fact that the new iPhone 4 has an innovative design with the metal frame on the sides of the device acting as the antenna, it could very well mean better coverage for iPhone users.

However, we’re starting to see some weak 4G connection emerging in New York City, which means Sprint is moving fast with coverage to help sway people to the EVO 4G {Engadget}.  It could help create some competition, but given that Apple sold 600,000 iPhone 4s in the first day of pre-orders, it is rather unlikely that the market will be equalized right away, even if the EVO 4G is a worthy competitor.





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