BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon leads the mobile performance pack in Minneapolis according the latest results from RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing. In the 2nd Half 2015 Minneapolis Metro RootScore Report, Verizon ranked first in Overall Performance, as well as taking outright wins in Network Reliability, Network Speed, and Data Performance. Furthermore, the carrier shared awards in the two remaining categories of Call and Text Performance.
While Verizon took the lead throughout the rankings in Minneapolis, Sprint and T-Mobile were not far behind. When it came to Overall Performance and Network Reliability, both carriers took a close second place. Meanwhile, T-Mobile fell only about one point behind Verizon in both Data Performance and Network Speed. Sprint on the other hand shared the first-place award for Call Performance and nearly doubled its median download speed since the last round of testing by RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE: IHS) company.
"Verizon is on top in Overall Performance in the Minneapolis metro area," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president, "but Sprint and T-Mobile aren't far behind. The results from our latest round of testing revealed the carriers closely trailed Verizon, which is good news for mobile consumers in Minneapolis."
This is the ninth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis:
1 – Verizon (98.8)
2 – Sprint (97.7)
2 – T-Mobile (97.5)
4 – AT&T (93.4)
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 quality 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.
All four carriers are providing excellent reliability in the Minneapolis metro area. Verizon ranked first in this category with a near-perfect score; however the other carriers fell only about one point or less behind. Network Speed, on the other hand, was a different story. The top three—Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint—were only about 3.5 points apart, while AT&T struggled to keep up, coming in nearly 20 points behind first place.
Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.7)
2 – Sprint (99.3)
2 – T-Mobile (98.7)
4 – AT&T (98.5)
Network Speed rankings:
1 – Verizon (95.9)
2 – T-Mobile (94.7)
3 – Sprint (92.4)
4 – AT&T (76.0)
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.
Verizon took its second consecutive win in this category of testing, while also recording the fastest median download and upload speeds in Minneapolis. As for the other carriers, T-Mobile and Sprint were close, but AT&T lagged behind.
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.3)
2 – T-Mobile (97.8)
3 – Sprint (96.7)
4 – AT&T (89.6)
Call and Text Performance
In Minneapolis, Call Performance resulted in a tie between Verizon and Sprint, an award that was previously shared by all four carriers for the past two testing periods. Notably, Verizon did not record any blocked calls during testing. For the second time in a row, Text Performance resulted in a four-way tie.
Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.4)
1 – Sprint (99.0)
3 – AT&T (97.9)
4 – T-Mobile (96.9)
Text Performance rankings:
1 – AT&T (99.1)
1 – Sprint (98.6)
1 – Verizon (98.5)
1 – T-Mobile (98.2)
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Minneapolis, RootMetrics performed 42,064 call, data and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Nov. 3 through Nov. 9. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 71 locations, outdoors and while driving 2,181 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.