Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
The exclusive US carrier for Apple's iPhone has released an application devoted to reporting problems with their network. AT&T will even send a free SMS to confirm receipt of your feedback.
The exact latitude and longitude of the occurrence along with specifics of the problem are sent directly from the application. The main menu offers options including Dropped Call, Failed Call, No Coverage, Data Failure and Poor Voice Quality.
Specific comments about the event can also be entered on an optional feedback screen. The app is called Mark the Spot and it's available on the AppStore for free. Mark the Spot requires iPhone firmware 3.0 or later. AT&T describes the software:
- Simplicity of operation
- Submit a real time report capturing local GPS coordinates at time and place of event
- Submit a report after the fact when a customer is not at the place of event
- Submit a report of dropped call, failed call, lack of coverage, data service failure, or poor voice quality
- Submit optional specific comments about an event
- Receive an SMS acknowledgement that the reported event was sent and received successfully
The company was recently slammed in a Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey for network issues and poor customer service. Even though the highly anticipated rollout of iPhone MMS service went smoothly, the company has been fighting an uphill battle for hearts and minds after a delay in launching the service.
Newest iPhone FAQs
AT&T is in the process of adding 2,100 cell towers to its network this year to improve service. The company often cites the heavy bandwidth use of iPhone owners as a difficult technical challenge.
Comments
Betty replied on Permalink
> And the company says it is spending close to $20 billion in 2009 on building out its network.
Which is a better managed, better operating, and better thought-out company:
Company #1: "Let's invest a billion per month in new cell towers and better equipment... as we need it... month by month.... over the next 20 months."
Company #2: "Let's do little-to-nothing... for 20 months... and then invest $20 billion... because everything is running extremely poorly... and we are being forced to upgrade.
Duh.
A "$20 billion upgrade" is a sign of how horrible AT&T mis-managed, mis-predicted, and hid its head in the sand... for way too long.
The iPhones weren't all sold in 1 day. They have been selling since July 2007.
The SECOND Apple makes the first Verizon iPhone... I'll never use AT&T again in my life.
Sorry AT&T? Way too little... way too late.
Eric replied on Permalink
Is anyone else wondering how the hell this thing is gonna send a message to AT&T recording it's location if it has no signal?! Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't it has to have a cellular signal to know where it is?! AT&T = fail. :-( Can Verizon hurry it up already?!
melissa replied on Permalink
USUALLY a text will go through even though a call doesn't. i have been getting all kinds of failed calls and i use this app every time. i can't imagine how overloaded the system must be with just the reports. (NYC)