Consumer Reports: Verizon and Alltel big winners in wireless service ratings

Just in time for the holidays Consumer Reports is scheduled to release new ratings of the biggest wireless service providers across the country.

The consumer watchdog magazine says it will publish in its Dec. 4 issue a story that describes Verizon as being tops in customer satisfaction in most cities surveyed and Cingular and Sprint getting the lowest ratings.

The publication says that 43,000 wireless subscribers in 20 markets participated in surveys used to create the ratings.

While not a surprise to anyone who has used a cell phone for any length of time, call quality is still an issue for many consumers. The publication says that 54% of respondents who switched carriers in the past three years say poor call quality fueled the switch. Only 33% say they switched for lower rates.

One interesting fact, according to the publication, is that the relatively small wireless service provider Alltel ranked well in the cities where it offered service. Alltel is considered a regional, rather than national wireless service provider.

Consumer Reports also pointed out that mobile users are still reporting problems when trying to use 911 service. The group says that 1 in 25 wireless callers never reach 911 when attempting to do so. This is particularly troubling when 29% of consumers buy a cell phone in case they have an emergency.