ATandT Fails to Cover SXSW iPhone Demand

AT&T is scrambling to meet coverage demands created by the thousands of Apple 3G iPhone-touting conferees at the annual South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas. As the crowds began descending on Austin for the March 13-22 festival of music, interactive applications and independent film, iPhone users have found coverage spotty to nonexistent.

AT&T called the demand in the Austin area for mobile data and voice applications at SXSW "unprecedented." The carrier said it was working to add capacity to cell sites serving downtown Austin, which is ground zero for the annual conference. While this not the first SXSW to feature iPhones, it is the first since Apple released its 3G iPhone.

"We anticipate that customers should see improved network performance this evening and for the remainder of the event," AT&T said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor network performance throughout the event, and will do everything possible to maximize network performance throughout."