AT&T customers got a pleasant surprise last week when the company announced "plans to improve wireless service for our customers in New Mexico, including Santa Fe."

"AT&T is working hard to ensure that customers in Santa Fe have access to the most advanced communications technology that AT&T offers," the e-mail message went on to say as it invited customers to a Thursday meeting at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.

The news might be greeted with applause by customers of the popular iPhone, who can't get data or call reception at the state Capitol or neighborhoods close to the Plaza.

But don't expect major improvements immediately. "AT&T is not ready to announce when cell-phone coverage in Santa Fe will be complete," said company spokeswoman Erika Ulring.

AT&T is being proactive: The company is upgrading around 30 cell sites to 3G throughout New Mexico. By 2011, upgrades are expected to be complete. Ulring says even after the upgrades, it will be impossible for AT&T to have great reception everywhere because of increased use of networks.

Much of the appeal for AT&T is generated by the 3G network for smartphones, a high-speed data service allowing users to surf the Internet, and is available many places around the country. AT&T's 3G is functional in Albuquerque — but not in Santa Fe — and Verizon's 3G works in both cities. Networks offering 3G are Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. 4G, the newest generation of high-speed data transfer, which rivals the speed of some home and office networks, is now offered by only Sprint in select locations — none in New Mexico — with other companies planning to release their 4G next year.

Meanwhile, spotty cell-phone coverage seems to be negatively affecting the tourist industry. Several hotels in downtown Santa Fe receive complaints about AT&T service. At the Eldorado Hotel, customers have to go outside to get service from AT&T, with reception slightly improving at the higher floors in the building.

At the Hilton Santa Fe, concierge Krista Houghton said the hotel receives complaints about AT&T service from about three people per week. The Hotel St. Francis also has dissatisfied customers because of slow Internet access on AT&T smartphones, employees say. Sunrise Springs Spa and Resort also reports little to no AT&T service, attributing the lack of coverage partially to the resort's location in La Cienega.

IF YOU GO

What: AT&T meeting on wireless network
When: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy St.