Challenges in Mobile Application Testing

It has been projected that the use of desktop devices will gradually fade away to make way for mobile devices. This subsequently means a rise in the use of mobile applications. With software developers worldwide under constant pressure to build high quality apps, the process of testing to check the features and functionality of a mobile application before submitting it for review or launching it in the market, has become not only mandatory but also more stringent. Research shows that an application which is not tested ends up being rejected by the major app stores. While professionals are appointed for carrying out the process of mobile application testing, they face several challenges while conducting it. The chief challenges are:

Compatibility with carriers – The use of internet services on mobile devices is rising rapidly with the availability of better data services and advanced technology. With the advent of 4G, the transfer of data has also become faster like never before. Therefore, to ensure that the user experience from a mobile application is high, apps need to be tested on all types of networks. Successful testing means compatibility of mobile applications with carriers like EDGE, GPRS, 3G, and 4G LTE. Since the testing processes on all the carriers have to be carried out separately, a well qualified and experienced software team is required.

Functionality across multiple OS platforms – In an age of cross platform mobile technology, it is important for an app to run successfully across all major operating systems. Only an app which fulfills this condition is termed as a well functioning software. A mobile application which operates only in one specific OS platform is one which will record low user experience levels; its download rate will also be low. But research shows that more the number of platforms provided to mobile app testers, more the chances of errors increase.

Orientation with different mobile devices – Flip capability is a feature that is part of every mobile application. Developers have to set up separate modules for testing this feature for the two types of orientation, landscape and portrait. Though the operations and functions of an app will be the same in all types of mobile devices, page layouts have to be checked separately. This not only consumes more time but also results in higher costs for the app tester.

The number of inputs is often unpredictable – Even a professional mobile app tester cannot make an estimation of the inputs that will be provided by the future users, thereby making testing for a wider range of inputs a problem.

The necessity of manual testing – This is the most time consuming and expensive type of app testing, but it is also a compulsory form. In this method of testing, the tester adopts the role of the audience, in order to get a clear picture of the interaction that will follow. The results received from the testing are first hand and therefore very reliable. By undertaking the manual app testing, a developer would get an idea of the exact reaction of his/her user base. The consideration of several parameters during the process makes the procedure very complex.