AT&T is widely criticized for its poor wireless network. Dropped calls, missing text messages and slow Web page load times are just some of the common complaints, problems which recently led J.D. Power and Associates to name AT&T (and Sprint Nextel) the worst wireless carrier in the western U.S. when it came to call performance and quality.

But AT&T customers in the Seattle area -- including iPhone users - will like to hear this announcement. The company today said that it has completed an upgrade of its 3G network in parts of King and Pierce counties. The upgrade in the 850 MHz band will expand capacity, improve performance and provide better in-building coverage, the company said.

"This substantial network upgrade is part of our commitment to continue delivering the nation's fastest 3G network along with the highest possible levels of service quality and reliability," said Mike Maxwell, vice president and general manager for AT&T's wireless unit in the Pacific Northwest. "We know many customers depend on wireless as their primary communications connection to work, family and friends. We're enhancing our network every day to help customers do more with and get more from their wireless connections."

Back in September, AT&T announced plans to upgrade six cities to its high-speed packet access technology, or HSPA, this year. Seattle was not one of them.

But the company today said that the HSPA technology -- which boosts speeds to as much as 7.2 Mbps -- will begin to be deployed next year with a completion date set for 2011.