3G phones cited for improved call quality

Wireless customers are experiencing fewer call problems than in the past several years, according to the most recent survey of mobile call quality by J.D. Power and Associates-and the change is at least in part due to the industry evolution to 3G networks.
The semi-annual study found that since the last two reporting periods in 2006, the number of consumers who report making calls with at least one problem has declined by 14 percent.
J.D. Power said that “considerable improvements have been made with regard to interference/static, voice distortion and echoes,” with the first two problems down 33 percent from the last reporting period in 2006, while the incidence of echoes has decreased 20 percent.
“Wireless providers have clearly made great strides in improving call quality,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. “Carriers that offer superior network quality are more likely to attract new customers and increase customer retention. In fact, improving network quality is a beneficial financial 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.”
Parsons added that the move to 3G networks has in part contributed to the improvement in network quality and that users who make calls from 3G-enabled mobile devices have only about half the problems of subscribers using phones with older technology.
J.D. Power based the survey on responses from about 29,350 wireless users around the country. The firm divides the U.S. into six regions and ranks carriers according to their standing in each region. Verizon Wireless dominated the results, outperforming other carriers to rank first in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Southwest. Verizon Wireless tied with Qwest Communications International Inc. for the top spot in the Western region, and the North Central region had several surprises: not only did U.S. Cellular Corp. beat out all the national competitors for a third time, but T-Mobile USA Inc. tied for second place in call quality with Verizon Wireless.
Sprint Nextel Corp. came in below the industry average in five out of the six regions, as did AT&T Inc.’s wireless unit. The carrier landed on the bottom rung of the ratings in the Mid-Atlantic and Southwest regions. Cingular came in last in the West, North Central and in its traditional stronghold of the Southeast.