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story category J.D. Power Ranks Wireless Call Quality
Verizon Wireless comes out ahead...
(old news - 10:09AM Monday Sep 08 2008)
tags: business · wireless · Verizon Wireless Broadband · Alltel Axess
The latest J.D. Power and Associates wireless call quality survey has been released, and ranks call quality by six geographic regions (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, North-Central, Southwest and West). According to the survey, Verizon Wireless was the top performer (or tied for top performer) in four of those regions. The exceptions are the Southeast region, where Alltel won -- and the North central region where Alltel tied for top honors with U.S. Cellular. Given that Alltel is being acquired by Verizon Wireless, you could call it a sweep. JD Power also recently ranked Verizon Wireless tops for "customer care," which surprised those customers familiar with Verizon Wireless billing support (or lack thereof).

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TKJunkMail
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1 edit

Methodology kind of mysterious

I looked at the charts for the Mid-Atlantic & the Northeast regions where I make almost all my calls. In each region T-Mobile beat or tied Verizon in every subcategory, but LOST the Overall rating to Verizon for Overall Service. These results bring in to question the validity &/Or the methodology used in these surveys.





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rideboarder
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Re: Methodology kind of mysterious

Doesn't surprise me really... Anything can be bought!

pnh102
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said by TKJunkMail See Profile :

These results bring in to question the validity &/Or the methodology used in these surveys.
While I do think that Verizon is pretty good where we are (we have AT&T), I've always questioned the results of any J.D. Power survey simply because the facts usually do not jive with the results.

But I think this is the first time I have seen their own test data contradict the results of the study.
--
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TKJunkMail
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3 edits

Re: Methodology kind of mysterious

JD POWER didn't list a "Call Quality" subcategory for Service ratings from above. Maybe that was implied or included in the overall category.

Here are links to their "Call Quality" only ratings where Verizon is the best:
»www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/···atlantic
»www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/···ortheast

S_engineer

join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL
·Comcast

Re: Methodology kind of mysterious

Business week names t mobile the worst...
»images.businessweek.com/tc/jdpow···ndex.htm

Has anyone found a JD POwer regional map?
I'd love to see where the demarcs are for these regions
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The "Lifetime" channel is responsible for 83% of all divorces...Robert Ginty
phantom6294

join:2002-02-27
Abingdon, MD
·Comcast

Click for full size
Click for full size
If the study was primarily focused on call quality, then it seems pretty easy to see why Verizon won for those two regions, despite lower ratings in other categories.

Matt
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said by TKJunkMail See Profile :

I looked at the charts for the Mid-Atlantic & the Northeast regions where I make almost all my calls. In each region T-Mobile beat or tied Verizon in every subcategory, but LOST the Overall rating to Verizon for Overall Service. These results bring in to question the validity &/Or the methodology used in these surveys.

[att=1]
[att=2]
Maybe coverage area? North Carolina is one of the largest cell markets, yet T-Mobile wasn't available here until very recently.
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m3rl1n

@compuware.com

I worked in the wireless industry a few years back. Even at that time, the way that the results were collected was suspect. They email surveys to X(20,000) number of people and then base the result off of the response. The sample is far too small to be statistically useful.

Hookem99
Deep In The Heart

join:2007-07-18
Pflugerville, TX

So much for....

More bars in more places.....

My AT&T service is really not bad, but I did hate to switch from Verizon, when my company started paying my cell bill!

lev
Napoleon is always right
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Chicago, IL
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Re: So much for....

said by Hookem99 See Profile :

More bars in more places.....

My AT&T service is really not bad, but I did hate to switch from Verizon, when my company started paying my cell bill!
Same here, although it was my choice to switch and get an iPhone.

Verizon was really foolish to turn down the first dibs on the iPhone, even given the control that Apple wanted.

vzcdma

@sonic.net

Re: So much for....

I dont know why people keep insisting that VZ turned down Apple. Most of the world outside of North America rums GSM instead of CDMA. Why would Apple build two versions of the iphone when they could design one and sell it virtually everywhere instead?

lev
Napoleon is always right
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Re: So much for....

said by vzcdma :

I dont know why people keep insisting that VZ turned down Apple.
Perhaps because it's a fact acknowledged by Verizon before the iPhone ever shipped?

»www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-···ne_x.htm

TCub
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said by lev See Profile :

said by Hookem99 See Profile :

More bars in more places.....

My AT&T service is really not bad, but I did hate to switch from Verizon, when my company started paying my cell bill!
Same here, although it was my choice to switch and get an iPhone.

Verizon was really foolish to turn down the first dibs on the iPhone, even given the control that Apple wanted.
Same here. I ended paying an ETF of like $120 or so. Worth it though. The iphone is a very nice upgrade from my old Moto Q, which was crippled by VZW and their horrendous software.

sousademiami

join:2003-02-04
Hialeah, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast

The only issues I have with AT&T call quality is when I'm moving, or in between towers and it makes a switch from 3G to analog networks. Calls always drop. And this happens to me a lot. For me, it's a deal breaker, and I'm switching when my contract is up since AT&T doesn't really seem to care about the issue when I call. probably going to go with Verizon since I don't use many minutes and call quality is important to me.
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hottboiinnc
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Re: So much for....

Why not try TM? They're lower priced and have great call quality. VZ is more expensive. Especially when you factor in TM does NOT require a contract with FlexPay. Lowest plan is roughly $42 per month with taxes plus gives you 300 anytime minutes, MyFav5 plus nationwide service. Don't like the service leave after your month is up didnt cost you anything but the first month and sell the phone you bought from Target or WM on eBay.
pules

join:2001-01-10
Los Angeles, CA
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I must agree with the survey

I've been with Verizon wireless since early 2000 and I must say they have the best wireless service. My gf was on Nextel when we were in Tahoe couple of years ago traveling down to Las Vegas, the whole time I had service, her's would go in and out of service. Also, she switched over to T-Mobile....same.

Right now my company has provided me a Sprint blackberry and she has a Verizon blackberry.....Verizon's network is soooo much faster (of course referring to data) and reliable. I love my Verizon provided service. And because of that I've been hesitant to switch over to any other provider.

Also, their customer service is great. They've always been able to solve my issue with just one phone call. The best part is dialing #611,0 and with in seconds someone picks up.

I must say. I'm def a happy camper with Verizon

jmn1207
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Reston, VA
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Re: I must agree with the survey

said by pules See Profile :

Right now my company has provided me a Sprint blackberry and she has a Verizon blackberry.....Verizon's network is soooo much faster (of course referring to data) and reliable. I love my Verizon provided service. And because of that I've been hesitant to switch over to any other provider.
Verizon data service is faster than your Sprint service? That would be a first for my coworkers and business partners currently utilizing these devices. Sprint has it's share of problems to be sure, but in the US, their data service is usually very fast compared to most others. At least it seems to be from D.C. to Boston.

rpeAMP

join:2000-12-02
San Antonio, TX

Both

I have both an AT&T phone and a Verizon phone and every where I go Verizon wins hands down. It might not have as many "bars" as the AT&T phone does, but it is more likely to make and maintain a call with lower signal quality each and every time.

Just my 2 cents.

CurGeorge8

join:2005-05-02
Pittsburgh, PA

Verizon on top.

I guess that makes them king of the pigs . . . .

bigunk
Gort, Klattu Birada Nikto

join:2001-02-10
Santa Clarita, CA
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Re: Verizon on top.

Verizon's network is the best one going. Most mature, most reliable. Their customer service sucks wind. I was with them for over 10 years, and the customer service went down the tubes. I switched to TMO, and while I have dropped calls from time to time, the customer service is the best I've ever encountered. The pricing is just icing on the cake. And should TMO's customer service decline, I'll be switching again. My only loyalty is to myself.
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It is, after all, America's Most Profitable Wireless Network, even if it's not number one (yet)...
keyboard5684

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What you have

If you have the service, just that service, usually you are going to say it is the best. Why else would you go with them if it was not the best in your eyes (except a few exceptions).

I have seen those commercials about dead zones, funny, but I always think of my house when I see them. I had to pay I think it was $300 ($150 per phone) to get out of my Verizon contract to switch to Sprint because as soon as I walked in my house my phone would be dead, 4-5 bars outside, zero inside.

So I switched to Sprint and LOVE Sprint. I have had company cell phones from Verizon that just suck. I will never go back to Verizon. Why would I, it does not work in my house.

My house by the way is brick.
Sprint here is at 1900mhz.
Verizon 800 I think when I looked.

I have driven all over the country (work) with both phones 9Sprint and Verizon, one work and one personal) and Sprint hands down, I always had good Sprint service.

So, I really do not give a crap what J.D. Power ranks and I never have. I use to trust them but after I bought something they reviewed I always felt like I bought something inferior. I think money pays for the top stats, JD is a fraud.

My 2 Cents.

CCNnorthcali

join:2004-03-07
Tempe, AZ
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Re: What you have

Here in Arizona, Sprint is awful. I have some friends who moved out here from St Louis where they said the service is great, and now we can barely make a call to them without it being dropped. Sometimes they get our text messages, sometimes not. I have T-Mobile and I barely ever drop a call.

uid1307457
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Re: What you have

said by CCNnorthcali See Profile :

Here in Arizona, Sprint is awful. I have some friends who moved out here from St Louis where they said the service is great, and now we can barely make a call to them without it being dropped. Sometimes they get our text messages, sometimes not. I have T-Mobile and I barely ever drop a call.
ATT spent 5mil upgrading the call quality service last year. I have ATT and I get a signal anywhere (always 5/5 bars).
ydoucare

join:2003-03-12
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said by CCNnorthcali See Profile :

Here in Arizona, Sprint is awful. I have some friends who moved out here from St Louis where they said the service is great, and now we can barely make a call to them without it being dropped. Sometimes they get our text messages, sometimes not. I have T-Mobile and I barely ever drop a call.
I have Sprint and I barely ever drop a call.

not quite right
I'm not cool enough to be a Mac person

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said by keyboard5684 See Profile :

).

My house by the way is brick.
Sprint here is at 1900mhz.
Verizon 800 I think when I looked.

So, I really do not give a crap what J.D. Power ranks and I never have. I use to trust them but after I bought something they reviewed I always felt like I bought something inferior. I think money pays for the top stats, JD is a fraud.

My 2 Cents.
FYI ... The lower the frequency (MHZ) the better the penetrating power, so maybe Sprint just has a stronger signal in at your house, or your Sprint phone is a better phone. you are a 100% correct about JD Powers being a fraud though and so are all those "Consumer Reports" type magazines.... there really isn't any type of media that will give a completely un-biased opinion.
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goahead

join:2008-09-03

Re: What you have

said by not quite right See Profile :

said by keyboard5684 See Profile :

).

My house by the way is brick.
Sprint here is at 1900mhz.
Verizon 800 I think when I looked.

So, I really do not give a crap what J.D. Power ranks and I never have. I use to trust them but after I bought something they reviewed I always felt like I bought something inferior. I think money pays for the top stats, JD is a fraud.

My 2 Cents.
FYI ... The lower the frequency (MHZ) the better the penetrating power, so maybe Sprint just has a stronger signal in at your house, or your Sprint phone is a better phone. you are a 100% correct about JD Powers being a fraud though and so are all those "Consumer Reports" type magazines.... there really isn't any type of media that will give a completely un-biased opinion.
actually its the opposite, 1.9ghz penetrates buildings better than 800mhz. the lower frequency has a bigger sine wave which is good for distance but not for penetration (if comparing only the two).
goahead

join:2008-09-03

Re: What you have

I should further clarify, 1900 does not travel as far and requires more towers, and attenates quicker but if we talk about solid penetration higher freqencies penetrate better but may still not work as well depending on area.

Packetloss
Premium
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Harrisonburg, VA

You can not be serious? Lower frequencies do penerate better. Just like a 900Mhz home phone will work better in treed enviroment verus a 2.4gig . The higher frequencies can carry more data faster due to the wave lenght.

said by goahead See Profile :

said by not quite right See Profile :

said by keyboard5684 See Profile :

).

My house by the way is brick.
Sprint here is at 1900mhz.
Verizon 800 I think when I looked.

So, I really do not give a crap what J.D. Power ranks and I never have. I use to trust them but after I bought something they reviewed I always felt like I bought something inferior. I think money pays for the top stats, JD is a fraud.

My 2 Cents.
FYI ... The lower the frequency (MHZ) the better the penetrating power, so maybe Sprint just has a stronger signal in at your house, or your Sprint phone is a better phone. you are a 100% correct about JD Powers being a fraud though and so are all those "Consumer Reports" type magazines.... there really isn't any type of media that will give a completely un-biased opinion.
actually its the opposite, 1.9ghz penetrates buildings better than 800mhz. the lower frequency has a bigger sine wave which is good for distance but not for penetration (if comparing only the two).
goahead

join:2008-09-03

Re: What you have

said by Packetloss See Profile :

You can not be serious? Lower frequencies do penerate better. Just like a 900Mhz home phone will work better in treed enviroment verus a 2.4gig . The higher frequencies can carry more data faster due to the wave lenght.

My apologizes, your exactly right. I was thinking in terms of something different and just made myself look dumb

asdfeasf

@spcsdns.net

Sprint has made major improvements with the network as they've been adding CDMA to thousands of iDen sites. They also have the best roaming agreements. They also have fewer users per site compared to ATT/Verizon.

AT&T is having major HSDPA/GSM interoperability issues.

No issues with Sprint here.

uid1307457
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said by keyboard5684 See Profile :

If you have the service, just that service, usually you are going to say it is the best. Why else would you go with them if it was not the best in your eyes (except a few exceptions).

I have seen those commercials about dead zones, funny, but I always think of my house when I see them. I had to pay I think it was $300 ($150 per phone) to get out of my Verizon contract to switch to Sprint because as soon as I walked in my house my phone would be dead, 4-5 bars outside, zero inside.

So I switched to Sprint and LOVE Sprint. I have had company cell phones from Verizon that just suck. I will never go back to Verizon. Why would I, it does not work in my house.

My house by the way is brick.
Sprint here is at 1900mhz.
Verizon 800 I think when I looked.

I have driven all over the country (work) with both phones 9Sprint and Verizon, one work and one personal) and Sprint hands down, I always had good Sprint service.

So, I really do not give a crap what J.D. Power ranks and I never have. I use to trust them but after I bought something they reviewed I always felt like I bought something inferior. I think money pays for the top stats, JD is a fraud.

My 2 Cents.
I agree. No one and no company can be perfect in any category. Verizon getting perfect scores in call quality is shenanigans.
MIHotBear
Premium
join:2003-07-02
Hazel Park, MI

JD Power

I have been a Verizon Wireless customer for years and have never had a problem that was not resolved to my satisfaction (albeit sometimes after some serious bitching).

However, my opinion of JD Power is that if you contact them and tell them what results you would like to get, they will design a survey that will put you where you want to be.

DownTheShore
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Beautiful NJ
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It Really Just Matters Where You Are...

My nephew and I were in Morgantown WV. He tried calling home with his Verizon phone and he had no service, while I could make the call with my AT&T phone. Call "quality" is immaterial if you can't make a connection at all.
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See 6 replies to this post
xrobertcmx
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Sterling, VA
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I have had all the wireless services

And now use T-Mobile.
Verizon was great, but a bit pricey (02-04)
AT&T was outstanding if I could make the call and it didn't drop - Was on AT&T wireless when Cingular bought us out, then switched to Cingular. (04-06)
Sprint was well Sprint (had them in '01 so it was a long time ago)
T-Mobile has been very good to me (06-now). I've been a bit upset when unable to roam over onto AT&T's network in the far, far, northern parts of NY (Malone), but to be fair for much of that trip my AT&T work phone didn't even see anything. I have the same problem in parts of Central FL (Between Jacksonville and Eustice).
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CaptainRR
Premium
join:2006-04-21
Blue Rock, OH

Re: I have had all the wireless services

All the years I used to live up that way AT&T never had service up in that part of New York. Malone to Plattsburgh was Unicell for GSM and Verizon Wireless ate them up. But I believe that part is overlaping existing spectrum and as far as I know AT&T is interested in it. Someday?
xrobertcmx
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Sterling, VA
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Re: I have had all the wireless services

March of this year I was enroute from Malone back to 81 and my T-Mobile phone could see the AT&T network but wouldn't roam onto it. This bothered me because one of their agents told me that if there was no T-Mobile Service then it would pick them up.
I do have to say thought that I did have service in Malone and for about 2 or 3 miles in any direction, that impressed me.
--
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itguy05

join:2005-06-17
Camp Hill, PA

Huh?

Verizon's call quality is garbage around here. Very digital and half-duplex like.

AT&T's is much better and has been for a while. The 3G rollout for them is a little tough but they will get through it.

I remember Verizon's growing pains and what a mess their CDMA network was/is.

Then again, marketing is a powerful thing - say something long enough and people will accept it as fact. That's how Verizon got to be #1 - their network is good, but so is AT&T.

swhitney2003
I can't drive 55.
Premium
join:2003-06-13
NH
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1 up for verizon

Verizon is the best provider in my area, so it only makes sense to go with them. As far customer support and quality, they are definitely doing well in my book.

r81984
Thread is
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1 edit

This survey is complete wrong.

They used surveys not real data.

Also, I have been around the whole county and verizons phones have never had as much coverage as ATT (with gsm roaming).
If you plan on traveling you will be much happier with a GSM phone.

My girlfriend uses Verizon. It seems no matter where she is the calls always have static or break up.
She has upgraded her phone to a new model 3 times and it does not make a difference. I have no problems calling landlines or other ATT phones, the problem is only with Verizon.
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Zen6

@rr.com

overall

Over all the study must be flawed. Here in NY ATT has the most consistent service, billing and reliability. Vz is full of dead zones around the state.
nolesch

join:2006-05-16
Paducah, KY

J.D. Power Ranks Wireless Call Quality

I had verizon for several years. Pretty good service I must admit, most time spent in west KY. However, everybody we know is on ATT. I've had ATT since July, and can tell no difference in service. In fact, it was better in some stretches around here than Verizon. It just depends in several factors.

Verizon's other great void for us, we've already rolled over into the 1000's of minutes, and never have to worry, and it's only been since July. Now we can consider dropping our land line. With Verizon, no rollover, and in the minority in this area. It just didn't pay to stay with them. While Verizon's call quality is very good, and their 3G/EVDO is far superior and way ahead (in terms of coverage) of ATT's, I'm much happier with ATT's non-verizon like lock down of their phones. ATT has a little of it. But Verizon was terrible with their phone/software lock downs.

ATT needs to pick up the pace on their 3G coverage. They are way behind Verizon.
Forums » J.D. Power Ranks Wireless Call Quality


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