BELLEVUE, WASH., Jan. 6, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When it comes to overall mobile performance in Phoenix, Verizon took the top honor for the second consecutive time in the latest report from RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing. The 2nd Half 2015 Phoenix Metro RootScore Report also revealed Verizon took first place outright in Network Reliability, Network Speed and Data Performance, while sharing the Call RootScore Award with AT&T.
Though Verizon took the lead in almost every category of testing from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE: IHS) company, the other carriers also scored wins. AT&T took first place outright in Text Performance, while sharing first place in Call Performance. Meanwhile, Sprint and T-Mobile recorded some of the fastest speeds in the Phoenix metro area.
"Verizon claimed first outright in Overall Performance, Network Reliability, Network Speed and Data Performance, all of which the carrier also won in our last round of testing in Phoenix," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "While Verizon retained the top spot in most categories, our latest Phoenix report revealed strong reliability across all carriers with scores of 97.5 and above, which is great news for mobile consumers."
This is the ninth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Phoenix 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 Phoenix:
1 – Verizon (96.7)
2 – T-Mobile (94.2)
2 – Sprint (93.7)
4 – AT&T (93.2)
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.
Verizon claimed the top spot in Network Reliability and Network Speed categories, both for the second consecutive time. In Network Reliability, all four carriers were in a tight race with only about two points separating first and last. Network Speed, on the other hand, resulted in generally lower scores across the board.
Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.7)
2 – T-Mobile (98.4)
2 – AT&T (98.1)
4 – Sprint (97.5)
Network Speed rankings:
1 – Verizon (86.9)
2 – Sprint (81.7)
2 – T-Mobile (80.9)
4 – AT&T (75.8)
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 also topped the rankings when it came to Data Performance in Phoenix. However, Sprint nearly doubled its median download speed from 6.6 Mbps to 12.0 Mbps since the last round of testing, earning the carrier the fastest median download speed in the Phoenix metro area. Meanwhile, T-Mobile recorded the fastest median upload speed at 12.3 Mbps.
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (94.7)
2 – T-Mobile (92.2)
2 – Sprint (91.6)
4 – AT&T (89.1)
Call and Text Performance
For the second time in a row, Call Performance resulted in a tie between Verizon and AT&T. AT&T claimed first place outright in Text Performance, an award previously shared by T-Mobile and AT&T for two consecutive test periods.
Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.3)
1 – AT&T (98.1)
3 – T-Mobile (96.4)
3 – Sprint (96.1)
Text Performance rankings:
1 – AT&T (98.8)
2 – Verizon (97.9)
2 – T-Mobile (97.7)
2 – Sprint (97.7)
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Phoenix, RootMetrics performed 41,027 call, data and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Dec. 2 through Dec. 8. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 67 locations, outdoors and while driving 2,363 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.