Future of?Mobile?Testing

The global market has grown extremely fast in the number of mobile device users. If the past is any indication, the mobile application and device market will continue to expand. More variations and more capabilities to come. It is not only the number of users that is increasing but also the user expectations in usability, performance and reliability. The testing will have to become more efficient and effective. How to cope with this demand from testing perspective?

?TEST APPROACH

No more traditional test approach. Test approach must be architected for change. Implementing or utilising test environment that could be quickly assembled and disassembled. More appropriate test tools are needed for the task to support rapid change in the market and the short lifecycle of the mobile application. Expect a demonstration of flexibility and ability to adapt changing markets — The partner that provides agility in testing is the key such as outsource testing, cloud environment vendors, device labs etc.

               CR: Helsinki Open Device Lab, devicelab.fi

Nonetheless, the partner should be carefully selected and long term relationship will allow more flexibility in meeting market demand without incurring downtime in negotiations or requirement debates.

TYPE OF TESTING

Usability testing - The mobile application tends to have more varied user base due to the ease of access. Mobile apps become more and more of our every day lives, user expectation will continue to increase as well. Testing needs to focus on how the user is actually using the application. The common expectation from app users is easy-to-use and intuitiveness. User will be less tolerant of usability issues so it is vital for an application’s success in the mobile world.

Performance testing - There are variety of applications to choose from and they will continue to expand. If user once experience the application with, for example, bad response time, they will consider to change to other alternative applications in the market or abandon this poor performance app. With demand of 24/7 availability and reliability of the application remains and user expectations are continually being refined. Yesterday’s fast performance may be unacceptably slow tomorrow thus performance testing of future mobile applications will be challenging to cope with.

Automation testing - This type of functional testing will become the "hero" when it comes to short life cycle and fast release in mobile application world. This testing is no more an optional for mobile testing. Testing needs to be fast, repeatable, easy to maintain and efficient. While the demand in test quality is never decreased, cost effective still remains as one of the important factor in software development, especially in maintenance phase.

Security testing - Mobile applications are generally more easily attacked than traditional ones. In the future, there will be more and more of future rich applications which deal with personal data like fingerprint, voice or retina. People are too trusting on the application they downloaded or the availability of open-network they used. Vulnerability will definitely be one of the main focus in mobile testing.

FUTURE TESTER

We will have to adapt with a good pace to this change as new applications and devices emerge daily and competition will continue to drive the market and lifecycle. We will have to be ready to adopt new technologies, new tools and learn more efficient and leaner testing methodologies.