BELLEVUE, Wash., March 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing, today released its latest results from San Jose, showing new changes for the city. In the 1st Half 2016 San Jose Metro RootScore Report Verizon took first place outright in Overall Performance and Network Reliability, two categories in which it had previously shared the top spot with AT&T. While AT&T tied T-Mobile for Network Speed and took the top spot outright for Data Performance during the last round of testing, T-Mobile surpassed AT&T during this round of testing, taking the top spot outright for both categories in this report.
Verizon earned the top spot for both Overall Performance and Network Reliability, although the other carriers weren't far behind in this new report from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE: IHS) company.
"The changes we saw in San Jose reflect the competitiveness of the market," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "With Verizon and T-Mobile breaking away from the pack in four of the six categories tested and all four carriers scoring above 93 in every category except Network Speed, mobile consumers in San Jose can expect good performance."
This is the tenth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in San Jose and issued its findings for the metro area. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for San Jose:
1 – Verizon (97.9)
2 – T-Mobile (96.7)
2 – AT&T (95.7)
4 – Sprint (95.0)
RootScores are on a scale of 0 to 100. A good Overall RootScore means strong all-around performance and a good consumer experience.
Mobile Performance You Can Depend on
Reliability and speed are crucial to a consistently good mobile experience. RootMetrics indicates performance in these key areas with its Network Reliability category, a combination of results from data, call, and text tests; and its Network Speed category, which examines results across testing of data transfers, downloading email and web/app tasks.
In San Jose, Verizon took first place outright for Network Reliability, with T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T close behind in second place. Meanwhile, Network Speed resulted in an outright first-place win by T-Mobile.
Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.4)
2 – Sprint (98.3)
2 – T-Mobile (97.9)
2 – AT&T (97.7)
Network Speed rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (94.2)
2 – Verizon (93.0)
3 – AT&T (90.7)
4 – Sprint (84.6)
Data Performance
Data Performance RootScores reflect how well networks perform in downloading and uploading data, performing email tasks, and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or apps.
T-Mobile earned first place outright for Data Performance in San Jose, and recorded the fastest median download speed at 21.0 Mbps. At this speed, downloading a high-definition TV show would take about 3 minutes. T-Mobile also recorded the fastest median upload speed at 15.2 Mbps, which means it would take about two seconds to send a picture on the network.
Data Performance rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (97.5)
2 – Verizon (97.1)
3 – AT&T (96.1)
4 – Sprint (93.4)
Call and Text Performance
In San Jose, Verizon and Sprint tied for the top spot in Call Performance, an award previously shared by Verizon and AT&T. Text Performance resulted in a four-way tie between all carriers.
Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.9)
1 – Sprint (96.7)
3 – T-Mobile (95.2)
3 – AT&T (94.8)
Text Performance rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (99.3)
1 – AT&T (99.1)
1 – Verizon (98.6)
1 – Sprint (98.5)
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in San Jose, RootMetrics performed 13,911 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night from March 2 through March 6. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 24 locations and while driving 845 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 the nation, states, metro areas, airports, campuses, venues, and transit stations, 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.
About IHS
IHS (NYSE: IHS) is the leading source of insight, analytics and expertise in critical areas that shape today's business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 150 countries around the globe rely on the comprehensive content, expert independent analysis and flexible delivery methods of IHS to make high-impact decisions and develop strategies with speed and confidence. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs about 8,800 people in 32 countries around the world.