BELLEVUE, Wash., May 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance information, today released a new report recognizing Verizon as the top-performing mobile carrier in Houston. This breaks the carrier's tie with AT &T, which shared the Overall RootScore Award with Verizon in the two prior reports. The RootMetrics 1st Half 2015 Houston RootScore® Report highlighted Verizon's success in the area, ranking first outright in overall performance, network reliability, data performance, and call performance, while sharing the top rank in network speed with AT &T.
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, major event venues across the country, as well as at state and national levels.
The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for Houston:
1 – Verizon (98.6)
2 – AT &T (97.8)
3 – Sprint (97.0)
4 – T-Mobile (96.1)
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 Houston. 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 Houston RootScore® Report, Verizon topped the rankings for network reliability with a near perfect score, breaking yet another tie the carrier had had with AT &T in the previous report. Verizon tied with AT &T on the network speed index, a spot AT &T occupied by itself 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 Houston.
Reliability Index rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.9)
2 – Sprint (99.4)
2 – AT &T (99.1)
4 – T-Mobile (97.8)
Speed Index rankings:
1 – Verizon (93.4)
1 – AT &T (93.3)
3 – T-Mobile (91.1)
4 – Sprint (88.4)
Data Performance: Verizon Remains Steady in the Lead
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 earned the top spot for data performance in Houston for the third consecutive report, recording the fastest median download speed at 16.6 Mbps. T-Mobile, meanwhile, recorded the fastest median upload speed in Houston at 17.5 Mbps.
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (97.8)
2 – AT &T (97.1)
3 – T-Mobile (95.9)
4 – Sprint (94.3)
"Our recent testing in Houston shows that the carriers are focused on providing their customers a reliable experience," said Bill Moore, RootMetrics CEO. "Verizon ranked first on our reliability index, but with scores above 97 for all four networks, reliability was outstanding. We also found strong data performances and fast speeds from multiple networks. This is great news, as consumers in the Houston area have multiple options for choosing a carrier with both reliability and speed."
Call and Text Performance
Examining other key functions of the consumer mobile experience in Houston, Verizon took the top rank in call performance, while Sprint maintained its Text RootScore® Award for the second consecutive report. Text performance was the only category in which Verizon was not on top.
To evaluate the mobile experience in Houston, RootMetrics performed 80,332 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night (4/18/15 – 4/25/15). Using smartphones purchased off-the-shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors (at 98 locations), outdoors, and while driving (covering 3,856 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, airports, and event venues, 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.