AT&T has released AT&T Mark the Spot, a free iPhone app that lets users notify the cellular carrier when they experience a problem, including a failed or dropped call, data failure, lack of coverage, or poor voice quality. Users tap the appropriate selection and let the app mark the current location with the iPhone’s GPS capabilities, or enter it themselves.
In its announcement of the app, AT&T also noted that it is nearly doubling its 3G wireless spectrum across the US and will have added about 2,000 new cell sites to its network in 2009. It’s also in the process of increasing 3G network speeds by deploying HSPA 7.2 in six markets by the end of this year, and it says it will begin implementing 4G in 2011.
AT&T and Verizon were recently involved in a legal spat over the latter's "There's a map for that" TV ads, in which the carrier lambasted AT&T for a lack of comprehensive 3G coverage compared to Verizon. AT&T sued, but a judge rejected the company's claims, leading it to drop its lawsuit.