T-Mobile Joins Verizon to Lead Overall Mobile Performance Rankings in New York City and Tri-State Area

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 31, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance information, is out with its newest report revealing a shared Overall Performance win between Verizon and T-Mobile in New York City and Tri-State Area. RootMetrics' 1st Half 2016 New York City and Tri-State Area Metro RootScore Report also reveals T-Mobile rose to the top in three categories that Verizon previously held outright, including Overall Performance, Network Speed, and Data Performance.

In fact, Verizon and T-Mobile were neck-and-neck across the latest rankings from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE:IHS) company. Verizon took the RootScore Award in Network Reliability, while T-Mobile (and AT&T) fell a point or less behind. Meanwhile, in both Network Speed and Data Performance categories, Verizon fell to a close second while T-Mobile took first place outright.
 
"In New York City and the Tri-State Area, we're noticing an increasingly tight race between T-Mobile and Verizon," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "After previously sweeping our awards in the city, Verizon and T-Mobile each took top honors in four of the six mobile performance categories. Our latest RootScore Report results suggest there are some shifts taking place in the mobile landscape in New York City."
 
This is the tenth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in New York City and Tri-State Area and issued findings for the metro area. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
 
The RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for New York City and Tri-State Area:
1 – Verizon (97.8)
1 – T-Mobile (97.6)
3 – AT&T (95.8)
4 – Sprint (92.3)
 
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.

Verizon took the award for Network Reliability outright for the fourth consecutive testing period in New York City and Tri-State Area, while the rest of the networks fell less than two points behind. In Network Speed, T-Mobile took the top spot with Verizon closely trailing.

Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.2)
2 – T-Mobile (98.6)
2 – AT&T (98.2)
4 – Sprint (97.5)
 
Network Speed rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (95.3)
2 – Verizon (93.9)
3 – AT&T (88.2)
4 – Sprint (74.9)
 
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.
 
In the Data Performance category, T-Mobile came out on top for the first time in New York City and Tri-State Area, while also recording the fastest median upload speed at 18.2 Mbps. Both T-Mobile and Verizon recorded the fastest median download speeds at 23.7 Mbps and 21.2 Mbps, respectively. On T-Mobile's network, downloading a song would generally take about two seconds.
 
Data Performance rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (97.9)
2 – Verizon (97.4)
3 – AT&T (94.5)
4 – Sprint (88.9)
 
Call and Text Performance
Verizon earned first place outright in Call Performance, an award the carrier previously shared with AT&T. When it came to Text Performance, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon shared the top spot, after a previous four-way tie between all of the carriers during the last round of testing.

Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.4)
2 – AT&T (97.3)
2 – T-Mobile (96.9)
2 – Sprint (96.2)
 
Text Performance rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (99.2)
1 – AT&T (99.0)
1 – Verizon (98.3)
4 – Sprint (97.6)
 
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in New York City and Tri-State Area, RootMetrics performed 101,818 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night from May 1 through May 7. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 163 locations and while driving 6,490 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 nations, 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 140 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 nearly 9,000 people in 33 countries around the world.