Mobile Applications Testing and its Challenges

Mobile application testing is a niche testing process in which the applications or apps developed for

mobile devices are tested for their foolproof functioning and performance. Mobile Applications are

easily downloadable in the various stores based on the operating system platforms or they are pre-

installed in the devices. These have to be tested for various scenarios.

Diversities in Mobile Devices

Device Variation o The physical differences of various mobile devices are stark. The input methods like

touch or keypad and the different screen sizes create a big challenge for testing. o The Application behavior should remain the same when the inputs are in different

fashion and the outputs should be rendered according to the display area. Operating Systems

o The multitude of Operating System platforms available like iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry come with their own set of behaviors.

o Testing a single application across multiple devices running on same or different platforms poses a unique challenge for testers.

Mobile Network operators o The hundreds of mobile network operators follow their own standards for

communication; some well known like 2G, 3G, GSM and CDMA, while many are less known.

o Each network operator uses a different kind network infrastructure. o Data transmission and interchange have to be tested under all the circumstances.

Script o Developing a common test script for the various devices with different input methods,

displays and User Interfaces is very difficult. o Many a times the scripts for testing are platform based.

Types of Mobile Application Testing

These diversities pose severe challenges in front of the Testing Teams for mobile applications. Mobile

application testing proves to be more complicated than web testing or Desktop Testing.