MetroPCS tops J.D. Power ranking of prepaid offerings

Regional wireless operator MetroPCS Communications Inc. topped the rankings in the latest customer-satisfaction study of prepaid users from J.D. Power and Associates.
The Dallas-based carrier performed particularly well in five out of seven categories, the market research firm said, including cost of service, account management, brand image and service plan options. Tracfone Wireless Inc.; Leap Communications International Inc.’s Cricket service; Virgin Mobile USA Inc.; and T-Mobile USA Inc.’s To Go service also ranked ahead of the industry average.
AT&T Mobility’s GoPhone was found to have the worst prepaid service of the nine offerings studied by J.D. Power.
Interestingly, the survey also found that overall satisfaction among all-you-can-talk prepaid users was “considerably higher” than that of customers who use per-minute price plans. Those with unlimited talk plans were reportedly happier with their cost-per-minute charges and the cost of refilling their accounts than their pay-per-minute counterparts.
“Prepaid customers are clearly responding favorably to these unique service plan options, as they provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional price-per-minute plans that are typically offered and allow customers freedom from worrying about being charged extra fees for making too many calls within a given time period,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power.