BELLEVUE, WASH., June 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The latest testing from RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance information, reveals heated competition in Chicago’s mobile landscape. In the 1st Half 2016 Chicago Metro RootScore Report, Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T shared the top spot in the Overall Performance category, which is an award Verizon previously held on its own. Notably, this marks the first time Sprint has won or shared this RootScore Award in the Chicago metro area.
Meanwhile, both Network Reliability and Call Performance categories resulted in three-way ties between Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile, while Text Performance resulted in a shared win between all four carriers. Of note, Verizon won or shared first place in every category tested in the latest report from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE: IHS) company.
“Our latest RootScore Report shows that the only thing hotter than a Chicago summer is the city’s mobile performance race,” said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. “During our last round of testing, Verizon won RootScore Awards outright in four of the six categories we tested – this time around, we saw two of those same categories result in three-way ties. This means competition in Chicago is red-hot as the carriers continue working hard to deliver top-notch mobile performance for consumers.”
This is the eleventh time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks Chicago and issued 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 Chicago
1 – Verizon (98.0)
1 – Sprint (97.7)
1 – AT&T (97.6)
4 – T-Mobile (95.8)
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.
All four carriers earned excellent scores of 99.0 and above in the Network Reliability category, which ultimately led to a shared win between Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile but means mobile consumers who use any of the top four carriers in Chicago can expect highly reliable service. Meanwhile, Verizon took the top spot outright in Network Speed for the second time in a row.
Network Reliability RootScore rankings:
1 – Sprint (99.6)
1 – Verizon (99.2)
1 – T-Mobile (99.2)
4 – AT&T (99.0)
Network Speed RootScore rankings:
1 – Verizon (94.2)
2 – AT&T (93.6)
3 – Sprint (91.5)
4 – T-Mobile (84.3)
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.
In the Data Performance category, Verizon took first place outright for the fourth consecutive test period. Verizon also recorded the fastest median download speed at 24.7 Mbps, while T-Mobile recorded the fastest median upload speed at 16.7 Mbps. On T-Mobile’s network, uploading a picture would only take about two seconds.
Data Performance RootScore rankings:
1 – Verizon (97.6)
2 – AT&T (97.3)
3 – Sprint (96.4)
4 – T-Mobile (93.5)
Call and Text Performance
Call Performance resulted in a three-way tie between Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, an award previously held by solely Sprint and Verizon. Meanwhile, the Text Performance category revealed a four-way tie between all of the carriers.
Call Performance RootScore rankings:
1 – Sprint (99.2)
1 – T-Mobile (98.4)
1 – Verizon (98.4)
4 – AT&T (97.6)
Text Performance RootScore rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (99.5)
1 – AT&T (99.5)
1 – Verizon (98.9)
1 – Sprint (98.8)
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Chicago, RootMetrics performed 82,057 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night from May 11 through May 17. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 133 locations and while driving 5,444 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 and companies make more informed mobile decisions. RootMetrics offers its RootScore® Report series for nations, 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.
CONTACT: Lori Niquette for RootMetrics
rootmetrics@shiftcomm.com
617-779-1800
Source: Telecom