The Top 7 Quality Issues With Mobile Applications

"Is there an app for that?" And more often than not, there is. However, what happens when "an app for that," turns into "don't download that..."?

As each new quarter turns out better, stronger, faster smart phones, tablets and computers, so come the better, stronger and faster applications--or so it seems.

Our customers tell us time and time again that mobile applications are not tested enough, so much in fact that we have identified the Top 7 Quality Issues with mobile applications and how these issues can easily be addressed and solved. In a world where 70 percent of major businesses applications need mobile applications and 48 percent of revenue from mobile applications is directly related to experience, poor functioning mobile applications are, if we may be so bold to say, unacceptable.

1. Time
Pressure to get to market leaves many application developers choosing to hit the 'fast forward button' on their testing process, as it occurs at the end of the cycle. Small glitches, crashes and malfunctions often get overlooked.

2. Inadequate processes
Mobile application testing is still in the infancy stage and to be honest, many QA teams haven't defined new processes to effectively test mobile applications.

3. Lack of  test plans

Traditional application testing plans are unfortunately still the guideline amongst many QA's and mobile application testing requires a fresh approach which few have implemented and/or are still learning.

4. Data Entry
Mobile devices are small (and getting smaller) and many have touch screen or miniaturized keyboards making data entry to be an untimely or a more lengthy process.

5. Validation issues

Understanding the results of processes and test scripts require articulate attention to detail on a mobile device and teams are still learning how to do this

6. Lack of physical devices

Gaining access to all the permutations for Android, Blackberry and iPhone could be an endless quest as each quarter turns out a new operating system, leaving developers as well as QA's scrambling

And lastly and the most important...

7. Lack of test automation

Without test automation, quality suffers in mobile initiatives, in all aspects.

So what's the solution? ZAP-fiX.

ZAP-fiX, a leader in test automation for mobile applications. ZAP-fiX provides an integrated environment that empowers both manual and automated testing of mobile devices from the desktop system.

ZAP-fiX allows for automation of all devices from one environment, can functionally test all devices (to include older versions iPhone and iPad iOs such as iPhone 3), allows for validation of test scripts and results and most importantly, works with HP Quick Test Pro and HP ALM

Poor functioning mobile applications will not only upset end users but will affect revenue, by automating testing for mobile applications and addressing and fixing these top seven quality issues, will ensure your business is staying competitive and ahead of the mobile application wave!