BELLEVUE, Wash., March 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance measurement, today released a new report recognizing Verizon as the top-performing mobile carrier in New York City and the Tri-State Area. The RootMetrics 1st Half 2015 RootScore Report® for New York City and the Tri-State Area, marks the 8th time RootMetrics has tested the area and the 8th time Verizon has either shared for or won outright the award for overall performance. The carrier earned the honor based on top marks in network reliability, network speed, data performance and call performance. The report also highlights T-Mobile's continued success in the city for network speed, and text performance.
With more than 335 million mobile subscriber connections in the U.S., mobile network performance insights and comparisons are critical elements to a positive consumer experience. RootScore® Reports provide an independent and consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance in the 125 largest metro areas across the US, the 50 busiest US airports, as well as at state and national levels.
The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for New York City and the Tri-State Area were:
1 – Verizon (98.2)
2 – AT &T (97.2)
2 – T-Mobile (96.9)
4 – Sprint (92.7)
The overall performance category includes results across data, call, and text testing; the top-performing network is awarded the Overall RootScore Award. A good Overall RootScore means strong overall performance and a good consumer experience.
Network Reliability and Speed
RootMetrics measures network reliability and speed utilizing two distinct indexes to offer the most comprehensive look at the consumer mobile experience in the greater New York City area. The Network Reliability Index is a combination of results from data, call, and text tests, while the Network Speed Index examines data and text results. For the 1st Half 2015 New York City report, Verizon topped the rankings for network reliability for the second consecutive report.
Verizon also tied for first in network speed with T-Mobile, a position held exclusively by T-Mobile in the previous report. Looking at the network reliability and speed indices in conjunction with Overall RootScores offers the most comprehensive look at the consumer mobile experience in New York City and the Tri-State area.
Reliability Index rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.3)
2 – AT &T (98.6)
3 – T-Mobile (98.1)
3 – Sprint (97.8)
Speed Index rankings:
1 – Verizon (93.9)
1 – T-Mobile (93.8)
3 – AT &T (92.5)
4 – Sprint (74.9)
Data Performance: Verizon maintains its Dominance
Data Performance RootScores factor in each network's reliability and speed when downloading and uploading data, performing email tasks, and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or apps. Verizon maintained the top spot for data performance for the 8th consecutive report, recording the fastest median download speed at 23.5 Mbps. Additionally there were considerable improvements in both upload and download speeds across all the other carriers. T-Mobile recorded the fastest upload speed at 18.8 Mbps, while AT &T showed improved its median download speed from 9.8 Mbps to 13.9 Mbps.
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.0)
2 – T-Mobile (97.2)
3 – AT &T (96.7)
4 – Sprint (87.7)
"While, other carriers including T-Mobile and AT &T continued to show impressive improvements in data speeds and network reliability for the greater New York City area, Verizon continues to lead in overall network performance," said Bill Moore, RootMetrics CEO. "In our most recent report, Verizon earned both the awards for overall performance and data performance for the 8th consecutive report, while also earning recognition for network coverage and call performance. When it comes down to it, all of the carriers are seeing the importance of providing the best mobile network coverage possible to consumers and our results from New York City show this."
Call and Text Performance
Examining other key functions of the consumer mobile experience in New York City and the Tri-State Area, Verizon also held the top rank in call performance. Additionally, Sprint showed great improvement in blocked calls, with its rate falling from 2.5% in our previous report to 0.2%. When it comes to texting, T-Mobile earned the Text RootScore Award, marking the sixth time the carrier has shared or won award recognition for text performance.
Conducting over 127,000 tests in the Big Apple and Beyond
To evaluate the mobile experience in New York City and the Tri-State Area, RootMetrics performed 127,411 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night over nine days (2/15/15 – 2/23/15). Using smartphones purchased off-the-shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors (at 152 locations), outdoors, and while driving (covering 6,005 miles). For details about RootMetrics testing, see the methodology section of the RootMetrics website.
About RootMetrics®
RootMetrics® is an independent mobile analytics firm that offers insights into the consumer mobile experience. RootMetrics provides data on mobile network performance to help people make more informed mobile decisions. RootMetrics offers its RootScore® Report series for metropolitan markets, nations, states, and airports, as well as its downloadable CoverageMap app. To ensure that RootMetrics testing reflects real-world mobile usage, testing is conducted based on where, when, and how consumers use their smartphones most often.