Verizon Retains Lead for Overall Mobile Performance in Detroit

BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 3, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing, today released its latest rankings, revealing Verizon won the Overall Performance RootScore Award in Detroit for the sixth consecutive time. According to the 2nd Half 2015 Detroit Metro RootScore Report, the carrier also won outright for five of the six categories tested, including Network Reliability, Network Speed, Data Performance and Call Performance.

While Verizon took the lead in Detroit, other carriers also made strides. In fact, T-Mobile recorded some of the fastest speeds in the Detroit metro area during this round of testing. As for AT&T, the carrier won Text Performance outright, while increasing its median download speed. The latest rankings from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE:IHS) company, also revealed that Sprint improved its rate of blocked calls and significantly increased its median download speed.
 
"Verizon turned in a very strong performance in Detroit during the most recent round of testing," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president, "However, with all four carriers earning scores of 98.0 and above in Network Reliability, consumers in Detroit looking for dependable mobile service have some excellent options."
 
This is the ninth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Detroit. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
 
The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for Detroit:
1 – Verizon (99.1)
2 – T-Mobile (97.1)
3 – Sprint (96.1)
3 – AT&T (95.6)
 
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.

In Detroit, all four carriers earned excellent Network Reliability scores. Verizon came in first place for the third consecutive test period with a near-perfect score, while all the carriers scored 98.0 or above. As for Network Speed, Verizon took the lead with a 96.3 score. This was the only category in which a carrier scored below 90.0, with Sprint and AT&T at 88.9 and 83.7, respectively.

Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.9)
2 – AT&T (99.0)
3 – Sprint (98.3)
3 – T-Mobile (98.0)
 
Network Speed rankings:
1 – Verizon (96.3)
2 – T-Mobile (95.9)
3 – Sprint (88.9)
4 – AT&T (83.7)
 
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.
 
For the second consecutive time, Verizon won the award for Data Performance in Detroit. T-Mobile and Verizon recorded the fastest median download speeds at 31.7 Mbps and 30.3 Mbps, respectively, while T-Mobile recorded the fastest median upload speed at 26.0 Mbps. Notably, Sprint nearly quadrupled its median download speed from 5.7 Mbps to 20.1 Mbps since the last round of testing in March.
 
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.5)
2 – T-Mobile (98.1)
3 – Sprint (94.7)
4 – AT&T (92.9)
 
Call and Text Performance
Verizon did not record any blocked or dropped calls during this round of testing, earning the carrier the top spot in Call Performance in Detroit. Text Performance resulted in an outright win by AT&T, an award the carrier previously shared with Sprint.
 
Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (100.0)
2 – AT&T (98.8)
2 – Sprint (97.8)
4 – T-Mobile (95.6)
 
Text Performance rankings:
1 – AT&T (99.4)
2 – Verizon (98.5)
2 – T-Mobile (98.4)
2 – Sprint (98.1)
 
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Detroit, RootMetrics performed 40,962 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 74 locations, outdoors and while driving 2,216 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.