Big Changes at the Top of Mobile Performance Rankings in Boston

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 3, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing, released its latest report revealing Verizon is the Overall Performance RootScore Award winner in Boston. This represents a significant shift from the previous seven testing periods, in which AT&T won or shared this award. Notably, the 1st Half 2016 Boston Metro RootScore Report showed similar shifts across the board. While AT&T previously swept the mobile performance rankings in Boston, this time around the carrier only took first place in Text Performance, an award it shared with Verizon and T-Mobile.

Meanwhile, Verizon and T-Mobile led the rankings throughout Boston, with Verizon taking outright wins in Overall Performance, Network Reliability and Call Performance, while T-Mobile took first place outright in Network Speed and Data Performance. Furthermore, T-Mobile recorded the fastest speeds in the Boston metro area, according to this latest report from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE:IHS) company.
 
"After a long run at the top for AT&T in Boston, Verizon is leading the way as the Overall Performance winner for the first time since 2012," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "Verizon and T-Mobile rose to the top of our latest rankings, suggesting the investment by those networks are paying off, which is terrific news for mobile consumers in Boston."
 
This is the eleventh time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Boston and issued its findings for the metro area. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
 
The RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for Boston:

1 – Verizon (98.1)
2 – AT&T (97.5)
2 – T-Mobile (97.4)
4 – Sprint (93.9)

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 consistently good 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 took the top spot in Network Reliability, an award AT&T previously held on its own. Notably, the rankings in this category were close, with only about one point separating first and last place. Meanwhile, Network Speed resulted in an outright win for T-Mobile.

Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.7)
2 – AT&T (99.1)
2 – Sprint (98.7)
4 – T-Mobile (98.5)
 
Network Speed rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (94.8)
2 – AT&T (92.8)
2 – Verizon (92.7)
4 – Sprint (77.4)
 
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.
 
T-Mobile took the lead in the Data Performance category for the very first time in Boston, breaking a seven-time winning streak by AT&T. T-Mobile also recorded the fastest median download and upload speeds at 20.4 Mbps and 13.2 Mbps, respectively.
 
Data Performance rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (97.7)
2 – AT&T (97.0)
2 – Verizon (97.0)
4 – Sprint (90.1)
 
Call and Text Performance
Verizon took first place outright in Call Performance, after previously sharing the award with AT&T and Sprint. In the Text Performance category, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile shared the top spot, after a previous four-way tie in the last round of testing.

Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.6)
2 – Sprint (98.6)
2 – AT&T (98.0)
4 – T-Mobile (96.9)
 
Text Performance rankings:
1 – AT&T (99.2)
1 – Verizon (98.5)
1 – T-Mobile (98.3)
4 – Sprint (97.7)
 
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Boston, RootMetrics performed 61,490 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night from April 3 through April 9. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 89 locations and while driving 4,065 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 140 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 nearly 9,000 people in 33 countries around the world.