As more network traffic moves to mobile devices, cellular network carriers are scrambling to retain customers and capture new ones. Carriers are making claims that their network performance is better than competitors, but using non-specific qualitative terms rather than quantitative ones. One need only look at the commercials of Verizon, T-Mobile and other operators to see that this is the case.

The problem is that it is very hard for consumers to get the real facts on voice quality and data throughput performance of cellular networks. The goal of this project is to create a system to obtain real-time, crowdsourced network performance data that can be used to inform the public and telecommunication researchers. For consumers, such data could lead to more honesty in claims, improvements in coverage, and lower consumer costs through competition. For researchers, the data could lead to new technological and operational innovations, improving service quality.

Many products already exist for collecting performance data from mobile phones, but they are mainly focused around testing an individual's connection speed and they don't collect the data for analysis by third parties. This app will anonymously collect fine-grained data throughout the day for analysis by third-party researchers.