Amazon’s AWS Device Farm Looks to Ease Cross-Platform App Testing

Amazon’s AWS Device Farm Looks to Ease Cross-Platform App Testing :: Mobile Application and Cloud Strategies :: Yankee Group Testing mobile apps across multiple device types is about to get a lot easier. Amazon is rolling out its AWS Device Farm, which lets developers test apps on a wide range of platforms without actually having to buy them.  

9to5 Google reports the new offering is a lot like Amazon’s previous App Testing Service, but while that service simulated devices and operating systems, AWS Device Farm lets developers use actual devices, even the newest ones with the latest OSs. After developers upload their app and choose the devices for testing, a built-in test suite tests the app against common customer scenarios and then returns a comprehensive report, grouping identical errors on multiple platforms together. The reports include logs, device screenshots and performance data, easing troubleshooting. All testing is done in an isolated environment, which is wiped clean afterward, ensuring apps remain secure. Testing for the first 250 devices is free, and costs 17 cents per device minute after that. Unlimited testing costs US$250 per month.  

This announcement comes on the heels of a similar one by Google, which launched its Cloud Test Lab at its I/O 2015 Developer Conference. Although they are different services in terms of the clients they target and the scope of their solutions, they highlight the growing relevance for mobile app testing and quality. When two new players such as Amazon and Google step in, we can expect a major impact in market dynamics. In the short term, this will benefit other competitors because it will raise awareness for mobile app testing technology. However, AWS is replicating its strategy of aggressive pay-as-you-go pricing with AWS Device Farm, and this will accelerate the commoditization of testing services, at least for the common use cases.

451 Research Senior Analyst Raúl Casta?ón