Verizon Remains on Top in Houston, Wins Overall Mobile Performance Award Outright

BELLEVUE, Wash., July 7, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After a previous three-way tie, Verizon emerges as the Overall Performance award winner in Houston according to the latest RootScore Report from RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance information. Notably, Verizon also swept awards across all categories in the 1st Half 2016 Houston Metro RootScore Report. Though Verizon led the rankings in Houston, every category but Overall Performance resulted in shared wins, meaning a close competition between the networks. Verizon and Sprint shared the top spot in Network Reliability and Call Performance, while both Network Speed and Data Performance categories resulted in ties between Verizon and AT&T. Furthermore, all four carriers shared the award for Text Performance in the latest rankings from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE: IHS) company.   "While Verizon topped our rankings across the board in Houston, the mobile performance competition remains hotly contested and shifts are happening quickly," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "We noticed particularly tight rankings in reliability, call and text categories, all of which are crucial aspects to a good overall mobile connection. The number of shared wins in this latest report suggests the carriers are making important improvements that benefit mobile users."   This is the eleventh time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Houston 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 Houston: 1 – Verizon (97.3) 2 – Sprint (96.9) 2 – AT&T (96.7) 4 – T-Mobile (93.6)   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 and Sprint shared the top spot in Network Reliability, an award the two carriers had previously shared with AT&T. Notably, the scores in this category were very close with less than one point separating first and last place. When it came to Network Speed in Houston, Verizon and AT&T shared the RootScore Award.   Network Reliability RootScore rankings: 1 – Verizon (99.4) 1 – Sprint (99.2) 3 – AT&T (98.9) 4 – T-Mobile (98.5)   Network Speed RootScore rankings: 1 – Verizon (90.5) 1 – AT&T (90.0) 3 – Sprint (88.4) 4 – T-Mobile (77.2)   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.   After previously winning the Data Performance award outright for four consecutive test periods, Verizon now shares the top spot with AT&T. Meanwhile, Sprint recorded the fastest median download speed in Houston at 18.4 Mbps, meaning it would only take about three seconds to download a song. T-Mobile recorded the fastest median upload speed at 20.3 Mbps.   Data Performance RootScore rankings: 1 – Verizon (96.1) 1 – AT&T (95.9) 3 – Sprint (94.7) 4 – T-Mobile (90.6)   Call and Text Performance Call Performance resulted in a two-way tie between Sprint and Verizon while AT&T and T-Mobile came in a close third place. Meanwhile, all four carriers shot to the top in the Text Performance category, which is an award Sprint previously held on its own for three consecutive test periods. Call Performance RootScore rankings: 1 – Sprint (99.5) 1 – Verizon (98.8) 3 – AT&T (97.5) 3 – T-Mobile (96.9)   Text Performance RootScore rankings: 1 – T-Mobile (99.4) 1 – Sprint (99.3) 1 – AT&T (99.2) 1 – Verizon (98.6)   Comprehensive Testing To evaluate the mobile experience in Houston, RootMetrics performed 61,619 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night from June 2 through June 8. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 99 locations and while driving 4,499 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
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         617-779-1800

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