Mobile devices are growing in popularity at an indescribable rate. Almost everyone has a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device; even home appliances are not immune to this growing market. The dominance of mobile devices and apps means software testing is even more essential. As with any kind of endeavor, there are bound to be challenges in mobile testing. Below is a list of the 7 most common obstacles faced by organizations and QA engineers when testing mobile apps and devices.
Various devices, configurations and OS
Perhaps the most frequent challenge with mobile testing services is the devices themselves. There are numerous types of mobile devices, such as iPods, iPads, Android and Windows devices. There are also many different configurations and operating systems for each of these devices. QA engineers and developers need to ensure that their app can work properly on the large number of devices and configurations.
Different types of applications
In addition to seeing if an app will work on all devices, carriers, and operating systems, testers need to be aware of the different types of apps. QA engineers must consider the particular requirements of native apps, web apps, and hybrid apps.
Variety of screen sizes
Another hurdle QA testers face is the difference in screen sizes. An app might work fine on an iPad and the screen will display everything that needs to be displayed, but that app might not work as well on smaller screens.
Multiple carriers and connection types
Verizon, Sprint, T-mobile, and AT&T are just a few of the carriers mobile testers should consider. Not all carriers will have the same network standards, amount of data, or coverage. In addition, quality control engineers must also consider the various types of connection. How will an app work on a 3G network compared to a 4G network? How about over Wi-Fi? How will the app work in airplane mode or if there is no connection? Although carrier testing is not as important anymore, bandwidth and connectivity are issues QA engineers need to consider when testing their mobile app.
internationalization
Another hurdle mobile fitting rooms face is internationalization. Translating apps into other languages can be difficult. This is especially true if the language reads from right to left, like Arabic and Hebrew, rather than left to right, like English and Spanish.
Lack of time or tools.
Some organizations may simply not have the time to thoroughly test their application. It is also possible that they do not have the necessary tools to properly test your application. Both of these hurdles could cause the app to go to market without proper testing, potentially leading to dissatisfied customers and lost revenue.
Inexperienced testers
Sometimes an organization’s QA team simply doesn’t have the experience or knowledge to test your application. Also, an organization can have their developers test their app instead of QA engineers. Getting developers to test may also seem like it will save money, however that is not the case. The app will lose quality because developers are not trained to look at an app in the same way that testers are. Testers are willing to “break in” an app to make sure the finished app is of the highest quality. It is understandable that the developers do not wish to “break” their creation. This could result in critical errors appearing later on.
How can these challenges be overcome?
- Hire a QA provider
One way to overcome these obstacles is to hire a software testing company that offers mobile testing. An efficient testing company will already have the tools you need to test your application. If your QA provider does testing abroad, you’ll save valuable time as QA engineers will run the tests when you’re done for the day. The best mobile testing service providers will have ways around these common obstacles.
- Have a test lab
Efficient mobile testing partners will have a state-of-the-art lab dedicated to mobile testing. This lab will contain numerous devices and multiple configurations of these devices for your application to be thoroughly tested. This will also help with testing on different screen sizes and operating systems.
- have experienced engineers
These companies will have highly trained engineers with years of testing experience and knowledge of a wide variety of test tools. These skilled engineers will have been trained in the latest testing methods and will be determined to find bugs in your app early on, giving your developers more time to fix bugs and ensure your app is of the highest quality.