AT&T Working to Improve Its Network

Everywhere you turn, someone is complaining about their AT&T service, but it looks like the company is getting ready to invest a large amount of money - $2 billion - to improve its network this year. From dropped calls to slow wireless, AT&T receives complaints from all over the country, particularly from iPhone users, many of whom say they love their phone, just not the fact that they are forced to use AT&T. Even the company admits that service in cities such as New York and San Francisco isn't up to what it should be. With Apple's new iPad product going on sale in two months, the company is surely feeling the heat to do something about their problems.

Many industry analysts say that AT&T won't be able to handle the added strain the iPad will put on the network, as it's barely been able to handle the iPhone. In 2009, in the 4th quarter, alone, over 3.1 million new iPhones were activated. However, on the night before Apple unveiled the iPad, AT&T made the announcement about their improvements. Their goal is to convince investors and consumers that they are up to the task and will be able to handle the iPad.

The announcement was made by Chief Operations Officer John Stankey during a conference calls with reporters. He said the company was planning to upgrade cell sites and add 2,000 additional cell sites all over the country, "We’ve got an aggressive plan to benefit everyone."

The iPhone uses ten times the network that other smartphones use, which is one reason AT&T has had so man problems. The iPad will be a much bigger strain. Several models of the tablet computer are being offered; the cheapest one being the 16 GB, Wifi-friendly one priced at $499. The $629 version has a 3G connection. AT&T will be offering a two-tiered pricing system for the 3G model. For $14.99 a month, you can use 250 MB and for $29.99 a month, you can have unlimited access.

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