According to Consumer Reports’ most recent customer satisfaction survey, a trio of mobile virtual network operators came out on top among postpaid service providers, while the prepaid survey found similar results.
Canada-based Ting topped the postpaid survey, garnering an overall score of 91, just ahead of Consumer Cellular’s score of 90. Ting offers services running across Sprint’s network, and was cited by Consumer Reports for superior value and overall data service experience. Consumer Cellular, which offers services across AT&T Mobility’s network, garnered top marks for value, data service experience and various support channels.
San Francisco-based Credo Mobile was a distant No. 3 in the ranking with a score of 75, followed by regional operator U.S. Cellular with a score of 73, and Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile US tied at No. 5 with scores of 69. Sprint, which provides network services for top-ranked Ting, was last in the postpaid rankings with a score of 59.
On the prepaid side, Republic Wireless came out on top in the rankings with a score of 88 and top scores in value and data experience. Republic Wireless offers cellular service running across Sprint’s network. A trio of services offered by TracFone Wireless, including the branded TracFone service (80), Straight Talk (78) and Net10 (76), came up next in the rankings, followed at No. 5 by T-Mobile US with a score of 73.
Consumer Reports lambasted Verizon Wireless for offering poor value in comparison to their smaller rivals, while acknowledging commendable scores for voice and messaging services. T-Mobile US was noted for its perceived value, while Sprint was dumped on for poor value and data service even though the well-placed companies all use Sprint’s data network.
• T-Mobile US continued to add features to its Simple Choice rate plans, although they were not significant enough to warrant an “Un-carrier” event.
T-Mobile US said that customers who sign up for one of its postpaid Simple Choice plans can add unlimited calling from the U.S. to landline phones in more than 70 countries for $5 per month for the entire account. Or, for a total of $10 per month, accounts can add unlimited calling to mobile phones in more than 30 countries and 1,000 minutes to mobile phones in Mexico.
The offer is available through the end of the year.
T-Mobile US this week added 14 streaming music services to its Music Freedom program, joining the 13 services already supported. The new services include:
Google Play Music
Xbox Music
SoundCloud
RadioTunes
Digitally Imported
Fit Radio
Fresca Radio
JazzRadio
Live365
Mad Genius Radio
RadioPup
Radio.com
RockRadio
Saavn
T-Mobile US customers on a Simple Choice plan can now stream content from the 27 providers without impacting their data buckets. T-Mobile US initially unveiled the offering earlier this year, and claimed that customers are streaming 66 million songs per day totaling 200 terabytes of data capacity.
• AT&T announced an agreement to offer mobile data services to Voxx International’s telematics customers on a “global basis.” Voxx currently offers services in the U.S., which will take advantage of a new LTE deal with AT&T Mobility, and said the agreement will also allow the company to offer services in foreign markets through AT&T’s roaming agreements.
“We have several programs under review outside of the U.S., and working with AT&T on these efforts is exciting for the potential customers who will benefit as a result,” said Dan Murphy, VP of telematics solutions for Voxx. “Through this agreement, we have the ability to expand outside of the U.S. and further grow the number of users of our Car Connection program.”
• Verizon Wireless recently announced the expansion of its XLTE service into a half-dozen markets in six states. The carrier said the latest expansion into Nogales, Ariz.; El Centro-Calexico, Calif.; Abilene, Texas; Rocky Mount-Wilson, N.C.; Waycross, Ga.; and Daytona Beach, Fla., pushes its total XLTE market count over 400.
Verizon Wireless’ XLTE service is connected to the rollout of spectrum support in the 1.7/2.1 GHz band that in some areas doubles the initial 20 megahertz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band the carrier used to launch LTE services. That additional support is designed to provide higher capacity for the carrier and improved service quality for customers.
Additional carrier news can be found on the RCR Wireless News “Carriers” page.
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