Growing Smartphone Usage Provides New Testing Opportunities, Heavy Reading Finds

NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The smartphone and other mobile devices market has grown exponentially, and more and more users are expecting error-free devices, creating a new testing ground for vendors that must find a way to keep ahead of the game, according to the latest report from Heavy Reading Insider (www.heavyreading.com/mobile-networks), a subscription research service from Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com).

Smartphones Create Exacting Testing Ground for Vendors examines the smartphone testing market, analyzing how smartphones are being tested today, as well as drivers expected in the market over the next two years. It discusses challenges in the industry and includes a comparative analysis of solutions available. Finally, it examines the geographic landscape of the market and details trends that are likely to occur in the industry over the next 18-24 months.

To see a list of companies covered in this report, please click here: http://twimgs.com/audiencedevelopment/LRHR/PDFS/mni0814_companies.pdf.

"As smartphones and other mobile devices have become more ubiquitous, users of such devices have grown to expect them to run error free at all times and in all conditions," says Denise Culver, research analyst with Heavy Reading Insider and author of the report. "A phone that doesn't perform will quickly be returned for another device – especially in a marketplace in which such devices often are provided free of charge to customers who sign contracts."

As vendors increase sales of smartphone test solutions into the marketplace, they have a responsibility to educate their customers about test automation and its proper development, Culver says. "According to one study, smartphone shipments will reach 1.2 billion units this year; thus, the market for mobile testing is huge and is growing fast," she continues. "As the market continues to expand to include more devices like tablets, wearable devices and other smart technology, testing vendors will have to increase the speed and flexibility with which they're addressing the needs for testing solutions in the market."

Key findings of Smartphones Create Exacting Testing Ground for Vendors include the following:

• Many customers are struggling to keep pace with the growing mobile market and the amount of testing involved.
• The majority of the smartphone test industry has not evolved or innovated at the same pace as mobile devices have.
• Mobile test automation is a new topic; users don't know what or how to test yet, and thus tend to build up huge, unwieldy testing scenarios.
• Test vendors are finding it challenging to keep pace with device technology and the testing needed to ensure outstanding user experiences.
• Vendors must address device diversity, network challenges and hardware differences in phones.
• Testing automation will continue expanding beyond smartphones to include smart TVs, wearables, appliances, vehicles and more.

Smartphones Create Exacting Testing Ground for Vendors is available as part of an annual single-user subscription (six issues) to Heavy Reading Mobile Networks Insider, priced at $1,595. Individual reports are available for $900 (single-user license).

To subscribe, or for more information, please visit: www.heavyreading.com/mobile-networks. For more information on all of Heavy Reading's Insider services, please visit www.heavyreading.com/research.

To request a free executive summary of the report, or for details on multi-user licensing options, please contact:

David Williams
Global Director of Sales, Research
Heavy Reading
858-829-8612
[email protected]

Press/analyst contact:
Dennis Mendyk
Vice President of Research, Heavy Reading
201-587-2154
[email protected]

About Heavy Reading
Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com), the research division of Light Reading, offers deep analysis of emerging telecom trends to network operators, technology suppliers, and investors. Its product portfolio includes in-depth reports that address critical next-generation technology and service issues, market trackers that focus on the telecom industry's most critical technology sectors, exclusive worldwide surveys of network operator decision-makers that identify future purchasing and deployment plans, and a rich array of custom and consulting services that give clients the market intelligence needed to compete successfully in the global telecom industry. 

About Light Reading
Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) combines its research-led online communities and targeted events portfolio to help those in the global communications industry make informed decisions. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for telecom analysis for more than 350,000 subscribers each month, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading produces targeted communications events and focused one-day conferences each year for cable, mobile, and wireline executives across five continents.

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SOURCE Heavy Reading