J.D. Power released its latest call quality survey, and Verizon Wireless offered the best call quality in most areas of the United States. Wireless calls from indoors have increased, while calls in cars have decreased.
Verizon
Wireless ranked highest in the Northeast region. Verizon Wireless had fewer customer-reported problems with dropped calls, initial
connections and interference, as compared with the regional averages. Verizon Wireless also ranked highest in the Southeast, Southwest and West
regions, and it tied with AT&T for the highest rank in the Mid-Atlantic region.
In the North Central region, U.S. Cellular ranked highest for an 11th consecutive reporting period.
The study found that wireless
customers receive 161 text message notifications per month on
average--17 more than six months ago (144) and nearly 65 percent more
than just two years ago (98).
Wireless
calls made indoors have increased to an average of 56 percent in 2011 from 40 percent in 2003. Wireless calls made from homes
increased to averaging 35 percent in 2011, compared with 25
percent in 2003. Calls made in vehicles have
declined to 20 percent in 2011 from 37 percent in 2003.
Wireless customers who use data-intensive devices, such as smartphones,
or who have high texting activity, have higher problem rates than the
industry average.
Among
the top 27 U.S. markets, average scores are lowest from wireless
customers in the Cincinnati and Pittsburgh metro areas and
highest from wireless customers in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
The
2011 Wireless Call Quality Performance Study--Volume 1 is based on
responses from 26,019 wireless customers. The study was fielded between
July and December 2010.