Cell Phone Networks are Improving, Claims Report

 

In a study of 29,346 wireless users, J.D. Power and Associates evaluated the number of customer-reported problems in seven categories: (1) dropped calls; (2) static or interference; (3) failed connection on the first try; (4) voice distortion; (5) echoes; (6) no immediate voicemail notification; and (7) no immediate text message notification.

 

Verizon ranked the highest in four of the six regions in the nation, having the least amount of reported network problems in the northeast, mid-altantic, southeast, and southwest areas.

 

While Verizon did particularly well, overall call quality has improved for all networks, according to the study. The number of calls with at least one reported call quality problem dropped by 14 percent over the last two reported periods (between the months of March to July 2006).

 

“Wireless providers have clearly made great strides in improving call quality,” said J.D. Power and Associates senior director of wireless services Kirk Parsons. “In fact, improving networking quality is a beneficial incentive for wireless carriers, as customers experiencing at least one call quality problem are almost four times more likely to definitely switch carriers in the future,” said Parsons.

The falling network complaints is due in large part to third-generation networks, otherwise known as 3G.

 

“As more wireless subscribers use cell phones that are 3G-enabled, the rate of call quality problems decreases significantly,” said Parsons. 

  

The following are Call Quality Index Rankings, according to J.D. Power and Associates:

Northeast Region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont)	Northeast Average: 102
Verizon Wireless	108
Cingular	100
Sprint Nextel	100
T-Mobile	90