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Why Do We Need To Test Mobile Apps On Real Devices?

by admin | Dec 19, 2018 | Mobile App Testing, Blog | 0 comments

Test Mobile Apps On Real Devices

It is difficult to imagine our world today without apps: games, messaging, diaries, dictionaries, training, fitness, training, shopping, travel, finance, news, social media, music, entertainment… the list is endless. Given the myriad applications that we rely on and live with each day,

software testing companies have their hands full testing all kinds of apps. With the number, complexity and variety of apps growing practically daily, QA companies have to constantly change, evolve, tweak and develop new testing modalities for the best user outcomes.

Testing apps is vitally important

Today, no business can afford not to have a mobile app that helps their target demographic shop or interact with the business. According to one Google report, 67% of users are willing to buy a product or service if they have had a positive experience with the company website or app. To stay competitive or even relevant in this ever expanding digital universe, businesses and app developers choose from among the best QA companies to have their apps tested for the market before launch.

Software testing companies will examine functional quality of an app to see whether it downloads and installs quickly and easily and check whether it is compatible with the supporting infrastructure. Any glitches and bugs can be identified and eliminated at the testing stage. A properly tested app ensures a high quality user experience; more downloads and better ratings; in other words more satisfied users and a positive market reputation. Loyal followers and dedicated customers translate into higher revenues for the company or app developer.

Importance of testing on real devices

Software testing companies will examine various features of the app. Ideally they will check the file size, whether download and installation/uninstallation is quick and easy and whether the application starts and stops without glitches or slowing down the device.

Orientations, key press, gestures and device adaptations are other aspects that testers would check. Permissions required, app notifications, default settings and updates are also important to check. The app’s security and integrity are other aspects for QA companies to check thoroughly. Sometimes, it may also be necessary to carry out device specific and network specific testing.

While it is possible to use emulators and simulators to carry out testing, they do have their limitations. Battery consumption, charger effect, call interruptions, push notifications and testing of aspects such as geo location and accelerometers, are just some of the reasons why testing apps on real devices is indicated. An in depth analysis of app functionality is only possible when the app is tested extensively on real devices. This testing will examine a wide variety of device types – speed, configurations, operating system and other aspects. It also takes into account variability of networks and data connections and the ways in which the app responds to these. This helps everyone involved get a more accurate idea of real user outcomes.

For these and other reasons, software testing companies now routinely test apps on real devices. While emulators and simulators are also used, the best QA companies will ensure that they test apps on real devices as well to get the most accurate app assessments.

The IoT Testing Approach

by admin | Dec 18, 2018 | Mobile App Testing, Blog | 0 comments

The IoT Testing Approach – The Opportunities & Challenges

With the Internet of Things or IoT becoming a prerequisite for the connected ecosystems of so many businesses, it was only a matter of time before this technology found its way into the working of so many industry verticals. Given the sheer volume and variety of data and its complex architecture, QA companies cannot afford not to integrate IoT testing modalities into their systems and services. Increasingly, businesses are demanding the IoT testing approach and software testing companies are increasingly adopting IoT because of this. IoT test is an effective test strategy that works to assess the quality, security and reliability of a diverse range of products.

Challenges of IoT testing

Software testingOne of the reasons reason that IoT testing has become so popular in recent times is that it enables efficient M2M (machine to machine) communication. It also enables the development of multiple protocols while helping to integrate of various technologies such as cloud computing companies have to take care of security issues and possible vulnerabilities across various layers of the system.

They have to account for cater to various theoretical and real time complexities. The dynamic environment of IoT, which integrates various devices and software types, presents more challenges for QA companies carrying out quality assurance checks. Scalability and automation requirements are challenges that testers have to work to overcome.

Benefits of the IoT testing approach

One of the reasons reason that IoT testing has become so popular in recent times is that it enables efficient M2M (machine to machine) communication. It also enables the development of multiple protocols while helping to integrate of various technologies such as cloud computing, nano-electronics and smart living applications. The reason that best QA companies now use the IoT testing approach, is because it can help to test how well the end user experience of an application will be. This is vital considering that users typically access their apps across multiple channels and devices. This type of testing also helps assess the future readiness of the software to be tested; whether it will stand up to the test of security, performance and interoperability. It can also speed up automation processes and cut the time taken to reach the market.

QA companies now meet the testing challenges that they face, by using a connected, multi-pronged approach. Firstly, performance testing would examine whether the application is able to deal effectively and seamlessly with the data volume and traffic.

It would also have to take into account the projected increase of these over time and examine whether the application will still have the ability to perform up to par. This would also include user experience testing to check how well the application performs across various channels and interfaces. Testers would examine possible back end and usability issues. To ensure a positive user experience, exploratory testing could examine how an application actually interacts with the end user and how well it responds to complexities in real time.

Testing for security and stability is of course a huge part of the job of software testing companies. The reliability of the system, privacy and security of user data and the storage of sensitive information are just some of the modalities that testers would need to thoroughly examine. Compatibility testing is yet another aspect that testers have to look at; examining how devices and applications interact. Encryption and hardware compatibility are more checks to carry out.

The best QA companies are oriented towards adding value to businesses and ensuring that clients get the best possible return on their investment. IoT helps access new business opportunities and enhances a business’s ability to offer a wider range of services to customers; potentially opening up newer possibilities of revenue generation and improving process optimization. To this end, software testing companies integrate IoT into their testing modalities; knowing that it can help increase productivity and enhance customer interaction and experience.

Mobile Application Testing Process

by admin | Dec 28, 2018 | Mobile App Testing, Blog | 0 comments

We are surrounded by a dizzying plethora of mobile apps for every possible reason under the sun; free as well as paid. We download and install these without a second thought.

We give as little thought to deleting these if they do not perform as promised. One way to ensure that your users do not callously consign your app to the virtual dustbin is to ensure that a QA company tests your app thoroughly for stability, usability and performance. Not involving a software testing company at for their QA services may save money now, but cost you big in the longer term.

The step by step testing process of a QA testing company

Experts recommend the engagement of QA services at the nascent phase of an app’s development to oversee each phase, from concept creation to examining requirements to actual product release:

Step 1: At the planning stage, software testing services will examine what the aims and shortfalls of the app are. Testers will look at aspects such as interaction with other apps, feature functionality, network compatibility, size on device and impact of app on device speed. Front end and back end testing will be carried out as per requirement.

Step 2: Next, testing companies would examine security, performance, usability and functional aspects of a mobile app. Mobile testing on various devices and operating systems will identify how the app performs on different screen sizes and on the preferred device type of the app’s target audience.

Step 3: Testing services typically use manual testing as well as automation testing services such as real-devices for checking the functionally and feature of apps. Memory requirements, data specifications, speed of the app on a given device and how fast the app drains the device’s battery are other aspects that testers will examine. Testers will run all basic functionalities to ensure glitch free, seamless working of the app.

Step 4: The best QA company will typically use a combination of open source programmes such as Appium Automation as well as other licenced programmes to thoroughly examine all aspects of an app’s working.

Step 5: A vital phase of mobile app testing services is beta testing for a satisfactory user experience. Testers will maintain a cross platform matrix to ensure coverage. This phase includes testing for compatibility across devices and OS, and user interface issues such as navigation, default settings, bookmarks, history etc. Testers will also test how the app deals with network interruptions, incoming calls and how it interacts with other apps. After comprehensive mobile application testing, testers will determine whether the beta version of the app is ready for the market.

Step 6: Mobile test automation will also test the app’s actual performance and responsiveness on various networks and network speeds. App stability, device specific functions, notifications, updates, permissions required for installation, sign up requirements are aspects testers examine closely. Testers will examine the app’s performance, both online and offline.

Step 7: One of the last but important stages of mobile QA is the examination of privacy and security issues. An app’s encryption systems, provisions for storage of sensitive data, security certificates and network security protocols are other important aspects that testers will examine thoroughly. Testers will examine the app in a cloud setting and perform regression testing as required.

Finally the testing team will summarise their test findings and recommend tweaks or changes before final release of the app into the market. This type of comprehensive testing by a QA company has a strong bearing on how pleased a user will be with the end product. It is this that will determine whether your user likes your app and whether they are willing to concede space on their device to your product!

Tips on Creating an Invincible Mobile Performance Testing Strategy

by admin | Jan 6, 2019 | Mobile App Testing, Blog | 0 comments

A strategy is the first step towards implementing an action plan, and mobile performance testing is no different. Any top quality software testing company will share an effective and efficient mobile performance testing strategy prior to moving forward with the actual testing.

It is our endeavor to take you through some tips for creating such an invincible testing strategy. We begin with some of the challenges in mobile testing, since without understanding what could possibly cause failure, it is not possible to create an action plan to overcome them.

Possible Challenges in Mobile Testing

To start with, identify the target audience / market for where your app would be most used. It would be a lot easier to identify possible challenges based on the information of the particular target group. A good Software testing services / QA services company would be able to help you determine the target audience and the possible challenges.

What seems to be one of the greatest challenges is the rapid increase in the number of Android devices, leading to varied screen sizes and operating systems. While Apple has fewer mobile devices, fragmentation exists in these as well. Compounding the problem is the mobility of users, varied user networks, and localization – all challenges standing in the way of mobile testing. For companies who may have recently released a mobile app of their business to complement their websites, ensuring the quality in terms of user experience, becomes of prime importance. Surveys reveal that consumers expect sites to load on their mobile devices at the same speed as their laptop or desktop. Load testing services from a top class performance testing company would be critical to protect the brand image of your company/business.

The Mobile Performance Testing Strategy

Device Selection This must be restricted to the target market – devices that are widely used in this segment based on screen size and the operating versions of Androids. Based on this information, some number of most relevant devices could be selected.

Testing on Real Device or Device Emulators Post choosing the market to test in and devices to test on it would be necessary to decide whether to test on real devices or on mobile device emulators. It would make sense to weigh the pros and cons of each.

Connectivity of the Network Used A proper network connection is necessary for most apps to run smoothly, but it is not feasible or possible to test mobile apps on each network. In addition, roaming to various locations within the country and outside could also affect the working of the app, and hence the app owners would need to travel around to ascertain the functioning of their app. Instead, choose a performance testing services company that would use cloud testing, and would use both manual and automated testing in conjunction.

Testing for Performance This is essential since storage capacity in mobile devices is limited, and users can buy extra storage for minimal amounts. However, not all mobile devices have the capacity to expand storage, and depending upon the content stored by the user, the functioning of apps can be adversely affected. An expert QA testing firm, would run various tests – load, stress, endurance, spike and security – to ensure optimal performance of the apps.

User Interface Testing (UI) This type of testing will determine how well the app works, whether it is easy to use, and whether it meets the expectations of the users. UI testing identifies bugs and errors.

Conclusion

To emerge victorious and to ensure seamless mobile device performance testing, it is necessary to remain consistently aware of the challenges, in order to create an invincible mobile performance strategy. Connect with us to accelerate the performance of your business mobile applications – both new and old.

Strategies for mobile app testing

by admin | Mar 26, 2018 | Mobile App Testing, Blog | 0 comments

The number of mobile apps is continuously increasing. To face fierce competition in the mobile app industry, quality assurance has become a unique selling point. Quality assurance in mobile app development can be actualized through comprehensive mobile app testing. Lack of effective mobile app testing strategy will invariably affect the quality of the mobile app. Let’s see how we can strategize mobile app testing.

Emulators or Physical device?

One of the important factors related to mobile app testing is the platform in which the testing will be performed. Whether the platform should be a physical device or an emulator depends upon nature of the test which needs to be carried out. Emulators can be utilized for user interface testing, and physical devices are most suitable for performance testing. Emulators can also be used to improve the cost-effectiveness of mobile app testing. There is no generalized opinion on which one is best for mobile app testing. It can be decided only after complete introspection the project and analyzing the nature of the testing.

Testing the security of the app

Security is one of the factors which decide the success of the mobile app. It is estimated that the
total cost of security breaches through mobile apps is around $50 billion per annum all over the world. Customers will not use mobile apps if it is not secure. Thus, the testing regime for a mobile app should also include security testing. Testing methodologies such as static and dynamic analyzing test should be used to identify loopholes in the existing security architecture of the mobile app. Testing should also try to locate various vulnerabilities present in the app which will help to ensure robust security mechanism.

UX testing

User experience decides the intention of users to continue using the mobile application, and it exerts influence on the overall success of the mobile app. A mobile app without intuitive user experience will not be able to sustain the market for a long time. UX testing should be done from the perspective of the target audience to ensure good ROI. Accessibility of the app should be validated to ensure the wide outreach of the app. Screen size and responsiveness of the mobile apps should be tested.

Beta testing

Before popularizing the mobile apps among the target audience, it is essential to use beta testers to identify bugs and to improve the performance of the app. Organizations can use beta testers from multiple channels to test whether the app is working flawlessly. Beta testing helps to improve the quality of the product and to improve the user experience of the application. Codoid uses both manual testing and automation testing in evaluating the performance of the app. Want to know more about mobile app testing? Email us at [email protected]

Mobile Application Testing Tools

by admin | Aug 24, 2018 | Mobile App Testing, Blog | 0 comments

Many companies are developing their products in mobile and the marketplace is seeing more devices, platforms, and versions, hence mobile application testing is vital.

Agile software development methodology satisfies the need of CI in which testing should be done as close to code changes as possible. Ideally this means that your app should be tested on every single commit. Also ideally all tests should be run, including those for parts of the app which haven’t been touched by the code change.

Apps are increasingly being built in a CI environment and today’s app development teams need to bring continuous testing into their mobile app testing strategy.

Mobile applications are categorized as Native, Hybrid and Mobile web which are expected to run across various devices with varying screen real estate, different network conditions, and multiple operating systems. Choosing the appropriate device matrix and appropriate automation tools saves time and cost.

How to pick the best Automation Tool for Mobile Application Testing

Identify the tests that need to be automated.

Research and analyze the test automation tools that meet your automation needs.

Do a pilot for two best tools as per your requirements and budget.

Based on the requirements, select the most suitable one or more tools.

Discuss the chosen automation tools with other stakeholders, explain the choice, and get their approval.

Proceed to test automation.

Appium

It is an open-source tool that enables automation of native, mobile web, and hybrid application across iOS and Android platforms. you can use Appium to run your tests on both platform with minimal or no code changes.

This allows significant reuse of code. Appium strives to support as many languages and frameworks as possible to give developers the most flexibility and can be mixed into any custom test framework you like.

If you care about hybrid or web testing, Appium provides the most natural vocabulary for switching between native app content and web content, since it leverages the WebDriver protocol for both. Moreover, Appium’s backend is Selenium, offering every Selenium functionality for your testing requirements.

SeeTest

SeeTest automation platform from Experitest is leveraged for continuous testing of mobile and web applications.

It is a preferred platform for testers, as it can integrate seamlessly with industry open source tools, namely Appium and Selenium, to run tests across a range of mobile devices and web browser for faster turnaround time. Additionally, it helps create tests efficiently and at speed on upgraded versions of open sources tools.

Reference to Test Execution, it accelerates the testing cycle and gives better test coverage by running tests simultaneously across multiple browsers and mobile devices. Hence, SeeTest not only offers a mobile test automation solution, but also helps install and launch it. With just a click, the tool can start testing the application across almost 15 devices at a time.

Calabash

Calabash consists of libraries that allow test-code to programmatically interact with native and hybrid apps. It provides APIs that are specialized to native apps running on touch screen devices. It consists of libraries that allow test-code to programmatically interact with native and hybrid apps. It supports framework cucumber, which makes it easier to understand by business experts and non-technical QA staff.

Espresso

Espresso is the newest official UI testing tool from Google (superseding both UiAutomator and UiAutomator2). Espresso has a completely different architecture, where UI tests live alongside the app code, and can even have access to shared code.

Espresso is only for testing Android apps, and Espresso tests must be written in Java or Kotlin. Espresso was designed from the ground up for speed of automation. Espresso has built-in support for ensuring automation does not continue until a view is in an idle state. This avoids a common class of automation bugs where the test tries to continue to the next step but the application is not yet ready.

Conclusion

Mobile application testing is a growing need, and the challenges around it are growing tremendously. Test automation tools and platforms definitely enable teams to resolve the issues faster and in a much more efficient manner by reducing the overall testing efforts. However, every tool and its implementation needs experience and a robust strategy.