AT&T iPhone App Uses Crowdsourcing for Network Enhancement

AT&T released a free "Mark the Spot" iPhone app that enables customers to quickly and easily provide feedback on AT&T network performance in a specific location.


When a network service issue is encountered, the customer can simply press a button to indicate the nature of the situation, and add notes to describe the situation if desired. From there, the app automatically notes the location, time of day and type of device used, and the report is sent directly to AT&T's network planning team.


"With AT&T Mark the Spot, we're applying the power of crowd sourcing to our ongoing efforts to enhance and expand our network," said AT&T Chief Technology Officer John Donovan. "Feedback from customers via AT&T Mark the Spot, combined with data from more than 964,000 miles of drive testing conducted by an independent third-party source, will enable us to most quickly and effectively identify trends and maximize the impact of our ongoing network investment. We encourage all customers to download and use the app."


As reported when AT&T released 3Q financial results in October, drive tests conducted by an outside firm show that AT&T has reduced 3G dropped calls by 12 percent over the past year, nearing a dropped call rate of 1 percent nationally, while also delivering the nation's fastest 3G speeds. With plans to invest between $17 and $18 billion this year - billions of which is dedicated to its wireless network - these metrics demonstrate that AT&T's investments are paying off.
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