RootMetrics

RootScore Reports provide mobile network comparison information based on the company’s testing. In the United States, the firm publishes reports for the U.S. as a whole, the 50 U.S. states, the 125 most populous U.S. cities, and the 50 busiest U.S. airports. In the UK, RootMetrics publishes RootScore Reports for the four UK nations, 16 most populous metropolitan areas, and three London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, and City).

The reports show network reliability and speed using two indexes: Network Reliability and Network Speed.{{cite news|title=Meet the firm behind Verizon, AT&T's reliability, speed claims|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/meet-the-firm-behind-verizon-at-ts-reliability-speed-claims/|publisher=CNET|date=2013-08-06}} The Network Reliability Index is made up of results from data/mobile internet, call, and text testing; the Network Speed Index is compiled from data/mobile internet and text results.

• National RootScore Reports (U.S., UK, Canada) - The firm publishes National RootScore Reports twice a year for the U.S., UK, and Canada as a whole.{{cite news|title=RootMetrics Releases 2nd Half 2014 US Mobile Network Performance Review; Verizon Maintains #1 Overall Ranking, Race Heating Up on Many Levels|url=http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/rootmetrics-releases-2nd-half-2014-us-mobile-network-performance-review-ver|publisher=FierceWireless|date=2015-02-15|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402050453/http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/rootmetrics-releases-2nd-half-2014-us-mobile-network-performance-review-ver|archivedate=2015-04-02}}{{cite news|title=EE named best UK mobile phone network, Three in second place|url=http://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/news/2015/02/ee_named_best_uk_mobile_phone_network_three_in_second_place/|publisher=USwitch|date=2015-02-15}}{{cite news|title=Canada's wireless tops the U.S and U.K. in speed, reliability, report says|url=https://vancouversun.com/business/Canada+wireless+tops+speed+reliability+report+says/10329964/story.html|publisher=The Vancouver Sun|date=2014-10-27}}

• State/Nations RootScore Reports (U.S., UK) - RootMetrics publishes RootScore Reports twice a year for the 50 U.S. States and the four UK nations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.{{cite news|title=Mobile speed tester RootMetrics expands to the UK|url=http://gigaom.com/2012/08/27/mobile-speed-tester-rootmetrics-expands-to-the-uk/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218052606/http://gigaom.com/2012/08/27/mobile-speed-tester-rootmetrics-expands-to-the-uk/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 18, 2013|publisher=GigaOm|date=2012-08-27}}

• Metro RootScore Reports (U.S., UK, Canada) - Metro RootScore Reports compile data on the major networks’ mobile performance within the 125 most populous U.S. metropolitan markets, the 16 most populous UK Larger Urban Zones (LUZs), and the six most populated Canadian metropolitan areas.

• Airport RootScore Reports (U.S., UK) - The firm tests mobile network data performance at the 50 busiest U.S. airports (as designated by the FAA) plus Heathrow, Gatwick, and City airports in the UK, measuring the network data performance of major operators on a typical day.{{cite news|title=Root Metrics Measures Cell Service At Airports, Which Carrier Wins?|url=http://www.nycaviation.com/2013/08/root-metrics-measures-cell-serivce-at-airports-which-carrier-wins/#.U9vvuVYQ54N|publisher=NYC Aviation|date=2013-08-07}} The data collection is conducted in publicly accessible areas, including common areas such as check-in, baggage claim, and various terminals. Test cover typical travel days, avoiding major holidays.

The RootMetrics CoverageMap combines the company's scientifically-collected results with results crowdsourced from consumers. It is available both online and within the company’s mobile app for Android and iOS. It displays call performance, average call signal strength, download data speeds, and types of network technology available.{{cite news|title=Carphone Warehouse, RootMetrics team up to help Brits find the best network|url=http://www.techienews.co.uk/9723958/carphone-warehouse-rootmetrics-team-help-brits-find-best-network/|publisher=Techie News|date=2015-02-22}}

Tests are conducted with unmodified Android-based smartphones purchased off the shelf at regular mobile phone stores. The company tests mobile networks at various locations and hours, both indoors and outdoors, and while driving, using a random sampling methodology to prevent bias.{{cite web|title=RootMetrics Methodology|url=http://www.rootmetrics.com/us/|website=RootMetrics|accessdate=2014-08-01}}{{cite news|title=Five things you didn't know about data testing (Smartphones Unlocked)|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-data-testing-smartphones-unlocked/|publisher=CNET|date=2012-08-05}}

Test locations are randomly selected in each state and each nation, and divided into groups by population size, with each population-based group given equal weighting.{{cite news|title=Infographic: Making sense of the spectrum debate|url=http://gigaom.com/2012/03/20/infographic-making-sense-of-the-spectrum-debate/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104154638/http://gigaom.com/2012/03/20/infographic-making-sense-of-the-spectrum-debate/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2012|publisher=GigaOm|date=2012-03-20}}

Complementing its professional testing, the firm also gathers crowdsourced network performance data from mobile users,{{cite news|title=Root's Crowd Sourcing Launch Deemed A Success|url=http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2010/03/roots-crowd-sourcing-launch-deemed-success|publisher=Wireless Week|date=2010-03-10}} combining them to produce the CoverageMap comparison tool, available both online and within the mobile application.

RootScore Awards are assigned to the networks with the top score in data/mobile internet performance, call performance, text performance, and overall performance incorporating the three categories.{{cite news|title=Who Has The Fastest LTE Service?|url=http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/20/who-has-the-fastest-lte-service/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=2&|work=The New York Times|date=2013-03-20}}{{cite news|title=So who has the superior wireless network, anyway?|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/so-who-has-the-superior-wireless-network-anyway/|publisher=CNET|date=2014-01-30}} For airports the awards are based on the data/mobile internet performance.{{cite news|title=AT&T Provides Best Coverage at Top U.S. Airports, Study Finds|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/02/att-best-airport-coverage/|publisher=Wired|date=2014-02-04}}

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• [http://www.rootmetrics.com/ RootMetrics website]

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Category:Companies based in Bellevue, Washington

Category:Mobile telecommunications