RootMetrics Report: Verizon Named Top-Performing Wireless Network in Miami
(PRWEB) May 30, 2014 -- Verizon earned the title of top-performing wireless network in Miami. That’s according to independent mobile analytics firm RootMetrics®, which measures mobile performance of the four national carriers with tests designed to replicate real-world consumer behavior.
The RootMetrics Overall performance category includes results across data, call, and text testing. A good Overall RootScore means strong overall coverage and a good consumer experience. Verizon took first place in Overall performance, with AT&T and T-Mobile ranking second and third, while Sprint trailed in fourth place.
The final Overall Performance RootScore rankings for Miami:
1 – Verizon (97.8)
2 – AT&T (95.7)
3 – T-Mobile (94.1)
4 – Sprint (84.9)
RootMetrics offers two indices within RootScore Reports that give consumers a clear view of each network’s performance in the key areas of network reliability and speed. The Reliability Index is based on a combination of results from data, call, and text tests, while the Speed Index includes data and text results. Looking at the network reliability and speed indices in conjunction with Overall RootScores offers the most comprehensive look at a typical mobile experience in Miami.
Verizon and AT&T had statistically comparable scores, and ranked highest in network reliability, while Verizon alone earned the top rank in network speed.
Reliability Index rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.4)
1 – AT&T (99.0)
3 – T-Mobile (96.6)
4 – Sprint (89.3)
Speed Index rankings:
1 – Verizon (91.7)
2 – T-Mobile (87.9)
3 – AT&T (84.6)
4 – Sprint (64.0)
"In our sixth visit to Miami, we’re seeing strong reliability results across the board,” said Bill Moore, RootMetrics CEO. “Data performance was also strong in Miami, particularly from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Speed is obviously great, but it’s meaningless if you can’t reliably connect to the network; all four networks had improved reliability scores compared to our last round of testing in Miami, and this is great news for consumers.”
Verizon Delivers Fastest Data Speeds in Miami
Verizon won the data category outright in Miami, with the leading Data RootScore of 97.1. During previous testing in Miami in May 2013, Verizon shared top honors with AT&T in the data category. Data RootScores factor in each network’s reliability and speed when downloading and uploading data, performing email tasks, and handling files that represent elements of a webpage. Verizon recorded the fastest median download and upload speeds in Miami, while Sprint’s median download and upload speeds were significantly slower than those of the other the carriers.
Median download and upload speeds by network
Verizon: 12.8 Mbps download/8.6 Mbps upload
T-Mobile: 9.8 Mbps download/6.3 Mbps upload
AT&T: 8.0 Mbps download/7.5 Mbps upload
Sprint: 1.2 Mbps download/0.7 Mbps upload
Data speeds affect how quickly consumers can perform various tasks online. For example, in an ideal situation, uploading medium-sized pictures (1 MB) to Facebook or other online albums typically takes 25 seconds to 45 seconds on average at speeds below 3.0 Mbps. At speeds above 6.0 Mbps, uploading a similar picture generally takes less than 1 second.
Making the call
Making calls in Miami should be a smooth experience on any of the four networks. Verizon and AT&T led the charge and shared the Call RootScore Award, with scores of 98.8 and 97.9, respectively. Sprint took third place with a score of of 94.7, and T-Mobile ranked fourth with a score of 92.8.
Text me
AT&T won the Text RootScore Award outright for the second consecutive time in Miami, with a score of 96.9. However, with Text RootScores above 94 for all four networks, text performance was strong across the board.
More than 50,000 tests in San Miami
To evaluate the mobile experience in Miami, RootMetrics conducted 50,156 call, data, and text tests on the networks of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon during all hours of the day and night from March 14 to 20, 2014. The tests were conducted using the RootMetrics RootScout app running on Android-based, off-the-shelf consumer smartphones purchased from carrier stores. Tests were conducted indoors (at 59 locations) and outdoors during drive tests (covering 2,340 miles). Mobile performance varies depending on where people live, work, or otherwise spend time. Because a variety of factors can influence performance, examples that show what data speeds mean while performing various mobile activities are a general look at data speeds for illustrative purposes and aren’t specific to San Francisco. For details about the results, see the methodology section of the RootMetrics website.
About RootMetrics™
RootMetrics®, based in Bellevue, WA, is an independent mobile analytics firm that offers insights into the consumer mobile experience. With its downloadable CoverageMap app for Android or iOS, RootScore Reports for 125 U.S. markets, and an online CoverageMap, RootMetrics provides data on network performance to the public to help people make more informed mobile decisions. To ensure that RootMetrics testing reflects real-world mobile usage, testing is conducted based on where, when, and how consumers use their devices most often.
Ann Marie Ricard, Rootmetrics, +1 (206) 683-0552, [email protected]
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