The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has released an application to test mobile speeds on Android phones and has begun a round of broadband testing for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, according to a CPUC press release released today.
The Android app, called CalSPEED, provides industry-standard tests to determine mobile data connection speed and quality. The results of these tests can help a consumer determine whether they have a connection capable of supporting Voice-Over IP, video streaming and other real-time applications.
Once used, CalSPEED’s results will be sent to CPUC as crowdsourced data, which combined with CPUC’s own data will display an interactive map showing areas of high, medium and low mobile services.
"By using CalSPEED and our interactive Broadband Availability Map, consumers can better understand the capabilities of a provider’s service at the locations they will be using it prior to purchase,” said Ryan Dulin, CPUC’s Communications Division Director, in a CPUC press release. “This will help consumers avoid costly termination fees they might otherwise incur by choosing a provider whose service does not meet their needs.”
According to Dulin, the data will be sent to legislators to determine where government-backed subsidies for mobile services are needed.
The code for the CalSPEED application is being made available for other developers, and the app can be downloaded via Google Play.
