Despite an increase in mobile calling volume in the US, the average number of initial connection problems has dropped 50 percent compared to 2004, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Wireless Call Quality Performance Study. The study, which measures mobile call problems nationwide, finds that three out of every 100 calls includes at least one call quality problem with the initial connection—down from six out of 100 in 2004. The typical mobile customer in America talks 418 minutes (6.9 hours) per month, on average—a 7 percent increase from 2004 (389 minutes or 6.5 hours). The number of calls made or received in a typical month has also increased, from an average of 77 in 2004 to 84 in 2005.
Study results by region are:
Northeast Region: T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless rank highest in a tie;
Mid-Atlantic Region: Verizon Wireless rank highest, with fewer reported problems in initial connection, dropped disconnected calls, static and voice distortion;
Southeast Region: T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless rank highest in a tie;
North Central Region: Verizon Wireless ranks highest among the largest group of ranked competitors, receiving the fewest reports from customers in the region of dropped/disconnected calls, static and voice distortion;
Southwest Region: New to the region this year, Nextel ranks highest overall, with fewer reported problems with dropped/disconnected calls and static versus the regional average;
West Region: Verizon Wireless ranks highest, with fewer problems experienced in the areas of voice distortion and dropped/disconnected calls.
