Verizon Takes Mobile Performance Awards Across the Board in Chicago

BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new report from RootMetrics®, the global standard for independent mobile performance information, shows Verizon sweeping the awards in Chicago for the third consecutive testing period. The 2nd Half 2016 Chicago Metro RootScore Report reveals Verizon taking outright awards in Network Speed and Data Performance categories, while also recording the fastest median data speeds in all of Chicago.

Meanwhile, AT&T is making significant strides in this latest report from RootMetrics, an IHS Markit (Nasdaq:INFO) company. During this round of testing, AT&T earns four shared wins, which is an increase from the carrier's two shared wins in the previous report. This includes a tie for top Overall Performance with Verizon. Furthermore, Sprint earns shared awards in three of the six mobile performance categories tested, including Network Reliability and T-Mobile shares a four-way tie for Text Performance.
 
"Though Verizon consistently earns high award counts throughout our mobile performance testing in Chicago, all of the carriers show improvements," said Annette Hamilton, RootMetrics director. "Both AT&T and Sprint make notable improvements in this latest mobile performance report. Mobile-users in the Windy City are the ones who will truly benefit from this increased competition."
 
This is the twelfth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Chicago and issued findings for the metro area. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
 
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 the Network Reliability category, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint share the RootScore Award. Meanwhile, Verizon takes an outright win in Network Speed for the third consecutive testing period.
 
Data Performance
The Data Performance category reflects how well networks perform in downloading and uploading data, performing email tasks, and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or apps.
 
Verizon earns an outright win in Data Performance for the fifth consecutive testing period, while also recording the fastest median download and upload speeds at 34.9 Mbps and 22.2 Mbps, respectively. On Verizon's network in Chicago, downloading a song would generally take less than two seconds.
 
Call and Text Performance
Call and text capabilities are fundamental to a strong mobile experience. Call Performance testing is based on how reliably each network can place and maintain calls, while Text Performance measures how reliably and quickly consumers can send and receive text messages.
 
When it comes to Call Performance, Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T share the top spot during this round of testing. Meanwhile, all four carriers share the Text Performance award for the second time in a row.
 
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Chicago, RootMetrics conducted tests across all hours of the day and night from October 8 through October 14. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 132 locations and while driving 5,431 miles. For details about RootMetrics testing, see the methodology section of the RootMetrics website.

About IHS Markit
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