In recent years there’s been a significant move away from desktop and laptop systems towards mobile devices, partly due to rapid advances in smartphone technology and the availability of affordable tablets. Whilst this is convenient for the end user, for developers it means there’s often a greater need for the services of a mobile software testing company to ensure compatibility across devices.
The move to mobile
We’ve already passed a number of important milestones. By 2013 more than half of web searches were being carried out on smartphones and tablets were outselling laptops for the first time. Part of the reason for this is convenience, having access to the web at any time, whether you’re waiting for a train or at home watching TV means that you’re more likely to look up the answers to questions or spend your spare time on social media or online shopping sites.
The technology has become cheaper which also makes a difference and a touchscreen device like a phone or tablet is less daunting for many than a PC with a keyboard. They also offer better battery life than a conventional laptop.
Mobile for Business
Whilst the use of mobile devices effects our everyday lives, it also has an impact on business. Employees are now able to have full access to company systems wherever they are. This makes working from home a more practical proposition as well as keeping field workers in touch with what’s happening.
It does raise some issues, however, with more and more companies finding themselves having to support a wider range of kit and operating systems. This means more work for services like mobile software testing company Bugfinders and others to ensure that systems perform the same across a number of devices.
Developers are recognising the need to provide mobile apps or mobile friendly versions of their services in order to ensure that they don’t lose out to competitors, and to ensure that they provide the flexibility their customers are demanding.
In many cases businesses allow their staff to use their own mobile devices for work. This BYOD approach, however, does need to be properly managed to ensure that company data isn’t put at risk. This requires a policy approach to outline what people are allowed to do, perhaps backed by mobile management software.
