Mobile App Beta Tests

Introduction to Mobile App Beta Tests

Mobile App (Application) beta tests are tests of software products which are developed to run exclusively on mobile devices, most commonly mobile phones and smart phones. Today mobile apps exist across a wide number of established platforms including iPhone/iTouch Apps, Android Apps, Blackberry Apps, Windows Mobile Apps, Symbian Series 60 Apps and Palm WebOS Apps. Many mobile apps are companions to existing applications, products, or web-sites, while others are stand-alone products such as games or productivity apps. Due to the low barrier to entry, instant geographic exposure, and general industry excitement - mobile apps are commonly developed by both very large and small companies.

Unique Mobile Beta Test Traits

  • Platform Specific - Most mobile applications run on a single platform such as iPhone, Android, or Windows Mobile. All participants must have access to and at least a basic knowledge of this platform, and many of the issues uncovered throughout the beta test will be unique and specific to the Platform.
  • Network Specific - Many mobile apps rely heavily on the network(s) the device exists on, often requiring network coverage to be a factor when selecting participants and evaluating feedback.
  • Geographic Features - Due to the mobile nature of their parent products, along with the common ability to detect geographic location, many Mobile Apps make extensive use of geography in their feature set. In these situations a diverse group of participants spread across the supported geographic area should be recruited to ensure proper coverage.
  • Peripheral Dependent - Many mobile application tests are reliant on specific peripherals which enable or improve the experience.
  • Product Component - Mobile apps are often a component of a bigger product. Similarly their beta test may be one component of a larger test and release strategy.

Mobile Beta Test Challenges

  • Non-Savvy Participants - Depending on the nature of the App, Mobile users may lack technical skills. This trait may even be essential to the success of the beta. This factor often reduces performance due to the frustration or simple lack of understanding of beta participants.
  • Sufficient Coverage - Customer location, subscribed network, and peripherals may greatly affect their usage and perception of your product. Ensuring your participant pool provides sufficiently diverse coverage to assess these issues is a difficult task to accomplish.
  • Limited Attention - Mobile Apps generally exist alongside many other apps, in an environment generally intended to be consumed in small bites. Due to this it can be challenging to ensure beta participants are focusing enough of their time and energy to ensure the product performs to your expectations.
  • Platform Specific Barriers - Some Mobile App platforms are not entirely open, and therefore may not allow for easy distribution of pre-release products.
  • Highly Limited Test Periods - Given the current quick-moving nature of many mobile platforms, companies are often racing to be first to market, limiting the available time for a sufficient beta period.

How Centercode Connect™ Software Can Help

  • Test Platforms - Connect allows you to collect detailed information about the products your customers own, including their platforms and networks. In addition Test Platform Profiles may be attached to feedback (Bugs, etc), offering you instant knowledge of the Geographic, Subscribed Network, and other factors influencing that feedback.
  • Targeted Recruitments - In addition to participant test platforms, Connect allows you to target your recruitment based on location, past performance, interests, and whatever other information you choose to gather.
  • Tasks - Connect allows you to assign specific tasks to ensure beta participants understand exactly where they should be focusing their attention. Task Acceptance allows your participants to indicate exactly what they're capable of accomplishing (Network, Platform, etc) - helping you ensure coverage in your testing efforts.
  • Collaborative Wiki - Connect's Wiki functionality allows participants to contribute directly to content such as manuals and marketing messages, saving even more time in short release cycles.

How Centercode Managed Betas and Services Can Help

  • Consulting - We can help you understand the process of getting your pre-release mobile apps into the hands of active beta participants.
  • Communities - Our community is loaded with both tech savvy and novice users, hundreds of which have completed detailed profiles of the mobile devices they own. We can help recruit users who match both your specific app platform and target market.
  • Offset Your Resources - If your timeline is extremely tight, or your programmers are the ones expected to run the beta, outsourcing your project to our expert Team of beta test managers can produce amazing results at a reasonable price.

Centercode Mobile Beta Test Customers (More Clients »)

  • Sling MediaStreaming Media Devices
  • T-MobileMobile Phones & Network
  • AppleConsumer Hardware & Software
  • TomTomGPS Hardware & Software

Call Us: (800) 705-6540
E-Mail Us: sales@centercode.com

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