BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 7, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing, today released new mobile performance results for New York City and Tri-State Area. For the second time in a row, Verizon won the Overall Performance RootScore award outright. Furthermore, the 2nd Half 2015 New York City And Tri-State Area Metro RootScore Report revealed Verizon took first-place awards in every category, including outright wins in Network Reliability, Network Speed, and Data Performance.
Although Verizon led the rankings, the other carriers had shining moments of their own. AT&T shared the top spot with Verizon for Call Performance and the Text Performance category resulted in a four-way tie. In addition, the latest testing from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE:IHS) company, showed a tight race between all four carriers in the Network Reliability category, with less than three points separating first and last place.
"Mobile users in New York City and the Tri-State Area enjoy highly reliable service, which is very important to a good consumer experience," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "According to our latest rankings, all of the carriers earned excellent scores in Network Reliability, and Overall Performance revealed a pretty close race as well."
This is the ninth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in New York City and the Tri-State Area. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for New York City and the Tri-State Area:
1 – Verizon (98.1)
2 – AT&T (96.6)
3 – T-Mobile (95.4)
4 – Sprint (92.1)
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.When it comes to Network Reliability in New York City and the Tri-State Area, there was a close race between the four carriers, with less than a three-point spread between first and last. Verizon took the lead, earning first place for the third consecutive test period. Network Speed, on the other hand, revealed Verizon on top, while Sprint came in more than 20 points behind.
Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.3)
2 – AT&T (98.8)
3 – Sprint (98.1)
4 – T-Mobile (96.9)
Network Speed rankings:
1 – Verizon (94.9)
2 – T-Mobile (92.7)
3 – AT&T (89.5)
4 – Sprint (71.5)
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 claimed first place in the Data Performance category during this round of testing, while also recording the fastest median download speed (20.8 Mbps). T-Mobile was responsible for the fastest median upload speed (15.8 Mbps) in New York City and the Tri-State Area.
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (97.8)
2 – T-Mobile (96.5)
3 – AT&T (95.4)
4 – Sprint (87.5)
Call and Text Performance
During this round of testing, Verizon and AT&T shared the top spot for Call Performance, an award Verizon held outright for the previous two consecutive periods. Text Performance resulted in a four-way tie.
Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.7)
1 – AT&T (98.1)
3 – Sprint (97.7)
4 – T-Mobile (93.6)
Text Performance rankings:
1 – AT&T (98.3)
1 – T-Mobile (98.0)
1 – Verizon (97.8)
1 – Sprint (97.6)
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in New York City and the Tri-State Area, RootMetrics performed 103,954 call, data and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Nov. 3 through Nov. 10. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 188 locations, outdoors and while driving 5,787 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.