KANSAS CITY, Mo. — We all know how frustrating it can be when you try to get on the internet on your phone, and it takes forever to load the webpages you want to look at.
PC Magazine conducted a study to see which phone companies have the fastest and most reliable service and Sprint is at the bottom.
The magazine tested Long Term Evolution service, or LTE – better known as 4G service – in 30 cities, and AT&T took the top spot.
Nationally, AT&T scored a 97, while Verizon scored an 89 and Sprint scored at 44.
T-Mobile didn’t get a score because it doesn’t have 4G service in enough cities.
Sprint’s score was better in Kansas City, where the phone company is headquartered, but still fared at the bottom. In fact T-Mobile’s LTE service in Kansas City scored higher.
Local ratings gave AT&T a score of 94. T-Mobile and Verizon received an 86 and locally, Sprint scored a 60.
Testers drove to several spots in the 30-city test area and tested all four phone services at once to determine which LTE service worked best. And while testers agreed AT&T was fastest, they say Verizon was more reliable.
They all agreed Sprint is on the upswing.
But all their progress could be for naught if Sprint does not acquire Clearwire, which owns a valuable spectrum that Sprint wants to use to upgrade its 4G service…and Sprint has been working in recent months to buy up the majority of the company.
But Dish network recently swooped in with its own bid to try to buy Clearwire…and Sprint filed a lawsuit yesterday against Dish Network.
Then add on the fact we don’t know yet who will buy Sprint. Current bidders are Dish network or Japan-based Soft Bank.
What happens in the next few weeks will determine the future of Sprint, and whether the company can improve its cell phone service and win over more customers.
