29/06/2012
Few areas that should probably always be covered in your functional testing strategy of Mobile Application:
Sign-up & Login: This may seem like a no-brainer, but if users
cannot easily access your application, your efforts will have been
wasted. If your app or mobile site requires password and username
(not recommended), pay close attention to the fields and make sure
that it’s easy for users to enter their information.
• Menu Options: Often times, menu options can be difficult to
access and decipher. Make sure that menu items like Help, About,
etc. are easy to find and navigate.
• Keys: Any problems related to scrolling, text selection, the back
button, etc. are bound to lead to trouble, so make sure your key
functionality is clear and consistent. Also, be sure to cross-check if
your app will run with a keyboard and/or touch-screen.
• Data Handling: An important consideration for all mobile apps (but
for games in particular) is data handling. Does your mobile app
store saved information properly? What about data deletion – or
worse – unintended data deletion? Make sure to include this in your
testing scope.
• Connection Speed / Carrier: With the iPhone now running on
Verizon, Sprint and others, testing on only one carrier is no longer
an option. Make sure that your most basic app tests include some
of the most popular (and likely) carriers, as performance can vary
greatly from one carrier to another.
• Operating System: Like carriers, the mobile operating system
running your app will have a huge impact on its relative performance.
• Screen Size: While this applies mainly to tablets, screen size
Discrepancies should be a top consideration while testing your
mobile app. For instance, how much should users have to scroll
from left-to-right or top-to-bottom, if at all?
• Interruptions: How does your mobile app behave when the
device battery is at full strength, medium strength and low
strength?
• Error Messages: Your error messages should be clear, concise
and actionable.
