Verizon Wireless Tops J.D. Power Network Quality Customer Survey

J.D. Power, the global marketing information service company, has just announced which carriers did the best in its semi-annual customer survey on network quality, with Verizon Wireless once again topping the list.

For the 14th consecutive reporting period Verizon ranks highest in the Northeast region, achieving fewer customer-reported problems with dropped calls, initial connections, transmission failures and late text-messages, compared with the regional averages. The nation's largest wireless carrier also ranks highest in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest and West regions. 

However, the study also found that in the North Central region, U.S. Cellular ranks highest for a 12th consecutive reporting period. U.S. Cellular has fewer customer-reported issues with audio problems, failed voice mails, lost calls, failed connections and dropped calls, when compared with the regional average. 

Yet, when there are winners, there must be losers. According to the results of the survey, AT&T performed the worst in the Northeast and West regions, while T-Mobile received the most customer-reported problems in the Mid-Atlantic and Southwest regions. Sprint Nextel also appeared on the bottom of the list, with customer-related issues most apparent in the Southeast and North Central regions. 

The survey also marks the evolution of wireless usage patterns, as fewer calls are being made or received. In 2009, on average, wireless customers used 527 minutes per month, however this year’s results showed a decline of 77 minutes to 450 minutes per month. 

The decrease in customers making or receiving phone calls reflects the popularity of text messaging, evident in the average 39 text messages wireless customers sent/received during an average two-day period. This number equals more than 500 incoming/outgoing text messages during the course of one month.