What Is Mobile Device Compatibility Testing?
In most instances, your hardware and software are developed independently but are expected to function properly together.
For example, when a Web application is developed in HTML, it is expected to function properly on an Apple computer using Safari as well as a Windows computer using Internet Explorer.
This sounds simple, but there are thousands of combinations of browser types and versions as well as operating systems, and the number of combinations increases exponentially as we add in the multitude of mobile device makes and models.
What Is Compatibility Testing?
Does your application function as expected on your customers’ devices?
While usability testing focuses on the look, feel and ease of use, compatibility testing focuses on determining if the hardware and software display and allow the application to function properly.
Mobile compatibility testing is checking or validating that your application behaves as expected across the combination of mobile devices and browsers that your customers will be using to access your application.
Why Is Mobile Device Compatibility Testing so Important?
We spend a lot of time planning and developing our application, and we want all of our customers to have the same expected user experience.
Test cycles conducted through the Federal Crowdsource Mobile Testing Program have uncovered many types of compatibility related issues that have an effect on user experience, including:
- Content—A full website usually does not fit on a small mobile device
- Navigation—Mobile navigation may require different navigation methods than the full size website
- Size—Smaller screens require font and objects to be sized appropriately
- Functions and Feature—Component behavior is not always predictable on the different devices and operating systems
Native applications bring even more issues, including:
- Installation and upgrade issues
- More dependence on the operating system than with responsive Web design applications
- Different versions are required for each operating system.
What Tools Can Be Used for Compatibility Testing?
The majority of time spent on mobile device compatibility testing is focused on the manual process of performing tasks as the customer would on different devices, operating systems and browser combinations and verifying that the screens and behavior is as expected.
That said, when using some automation tools, tests can be automated and executed across different devices, capturing screen shots along the way. But, in many cases, manual intervention is still required to interpret these results.
Additionally, there are many tools available, such as emulators and simulators, that reduce the need for physical devices for testing.
How Do You Ensure Your Mobile Application Is Compatible with All of Your Customers’ Devices?
macromediam, iStock, Thinkstock
The Federal Crowdsource Mobile Testing Program is ready to assist you in determining if your application is compatible with the mobile devices your customers are using.
This program gathers federal employees and conducts a test cycle that will perform scripted and exploratory testing on your application. These individual results will be consolidated into an actionable results report that your agency can use to improve your application. This process also provides a forum for the tester to collaborate and share knowledge with others.
For more information on being a tester or having your federal application tested, please contact DigitalGov.
Additional Resources
