American consumers are increasingly dissatisfied with their cell phone service, the latest J.D. Power and Associates study finds. Overall satisfaction fell 10 percent since 2004, the biggest year-over-year change since the study's inception, the company said.
Since the study was launched in 1995, overall wireless satisfaction performance has fluctuated in a downward trend based on a number of industry changes such as competitive expansion, key regulatory programs and mergers. These forces have made it difficult for carriers to meet customer expectations as wireless service gained mass appeal.
Over the past two years, the industry has experienced two of the largest mergers in its history: Cingular and AT&T Wireless in 2004 and the more recent union between Nextel and Sprint.
Experience has shown that mergers, at least in the short-term, negatively affect customer attitudes and perceptions with their wireless service, creating a sense of confusion and uncertainty.
That held true in the latest study, which found Nextel and Sprint experiencing the biggest declines compared to their overall satisfaction index ratings in 2004. However, even carriers not involved in mergers are impacted, with most experiencing some decline in overall satisfaction from 2004.
"Given the number of major changes consumers have experienced over the past couple of years, the gap between customer expectations and actual service experience tends to widen as uncertainty from mergers greatly influences consumer perceptions," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates.
"Case in point is the impact major market dynamics plays in future switching intent. Between 2004 and 2005, there has been a 5 percent increase in the intent to switch wireless carriers in the next 12 months -- a reverse from the past two years, where future switching intent remained stable."
The study measures customer satisfaction based on 42 specific service-related measures grouped into six key factors that impact overall wireless carrier performance. These are (in order of importance):
Carriers are ranked across six regions in the United States.
T-Mobile performs particularly well in the study, ranking highest in all six regions (including four ties), largely by demonstrating a competitive advantage in service plan options, cost of service and billing. Verizon Wireless also ranks highest in a tie in four regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, North Central and West. The carrier's main strengths are in the call quality and brand image dimensions.
U.S. Cellular is the only other provider to rank highest, tying with Verizon and T-Mobile in the North Central region.
Study results by region are:
Northeast Region: T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless rank highest in a tie. T-Mobile performs particularly well in the areas of customer service, service plan options, cost of service and billing. Verizon Wireless' main strength is in call quality.
Mid-Atlantic Region: Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile rank highest in a tie. Verizon Wireless outperforms the competition in call quality and brand image. T-Mobile's strength lies in cost of service.
Southeast Region: T-Mobile ranks highest overall. T-Mobile performs particularly well in customer service, service plan options, cost of service and billing.
North Central Region: This is the most competitive region, with T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular all tied for highest customer satisfaction. T-Mobile leads the region in cost of service, while both Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular receive the highest ratings in customer service.
Southwest Region: T-Mobile ranks highest overall, with superior ratings in call quality, service plan options, cost of service and billing.
West Region: Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile rank highest in a tie. Verizon Wireless performs particularly well in call quality and brand image. T-Mobile receives the highest ratings in cost of service.
The 2005 U.S. Wireless Regional CSI Study is based on experiences reported by 24,096 wireless users.
