AT&T rolls out network performance app, admits problems in NY, San Fran

AT&T Mobility has launched a new iPhone app called Mark the Spot that allows users to offer up live feedback on network performance. The move comes as iPhone users continue to complain about the operator's network performance.

The free app allows customers to report network problems and automatically logs the location, time of day and type of device used and sends the information to AT&T's network planning team.

The app was created earlier this year, and AT&T employees have been using it over the last several months. The operator intends to introduce various versions of the app for different smartphone devices in the coming months.

Meanwhile, AT&T Mobility's Ralph de la Vega admitted the carrier's wireless network is not up to par in areas of Manhattan and San Francisco, and said the company is working hard to get network issues resolved in those two key markets.

De la Vega also confirmed industry reports indicating about 3 percent of AT&T's smartphone users are generating about 40 percent of its data traffic. He added that the company is studying consumer mobile data usage patterns and trying to come up with ways to encourage these users to modify their usage.

For more:
- see this Wireless Week article [1]
- read this FierceWireless article [2]

Related articles:
Testing shows AT&T's 3G network outperforms Verizon's [3]
AT&T CTO defends mobile broadband network [4]
Another test puts AT&T last in mobile broadband performance [5]