Mobile Labs: Streamlining Mobile App Testing Process with IBM

Don Addington, President & CEO

Today, enterprises have numerous apps that are tested across multiple platforms, operating systems, and device types. The crucial issue for mobile testing is cloud-based access to real devices for supporting development, test, integration, and deployment stages of mobile DevOps. IBM is the leading developer assisting DevOps revolution for conventional IT platforms like web, desktop, and server platforms. Even after being an expert in this arena, IBM faces the challenges of incorporating mobile application assignments into workflows and accessing mobile devices assuring swift release of highly efficient mobile applications for businesses. Atlanta-based Mobile Labs addresses these issues in the mobile app landscape by transforming mobile devices into an extremely accessible and safe cloud-based infrastructure for access in various use cases. The company supports a typical testing process starting from creation of test cases, moving towards performance of user acceptance and finally device testing.

Mobile Labs also offers infrastructure elements that support open-source and mobile OS vendor automated testing, integration, development, and deployment. Over the period of time, Mobile Labs evolved from providing only mobile test automation to highly secure device access and management via cloud infrastructure. “By opening devices as infrastructure, we enable our customers to bring back DevOps processes to mobile and pick-up significant efficiencies in their highest profile projects,” cites Don Addington, President and CEO, Mobile Labs.

Mobile Labs supports IBM’s Rational suite of tools for automated testing and test case management. “According to IBM, continuous testing is complex, and we help eliminate blockages that occur because so many team members need access to real mobile devices,” says Addington. “Our deviceConnect mobile device cloud makes real devices available for developing and testing apps.” DeviceConnect enables enterprises to automate mobile DevOps including continuous integration and automated test on real mobile devices, automating the process of deploying new builds to mobile devices. The company is a Ready for Rational partner through its integration with IBM Urban Code Deploy and enables Rational Test Workbench through standard interfaces within deviceConnect to support test automation.

Mobile Labs offers infrastructure elements that support open-source and mobile OS vendor automated testing, integration, development, and deployment

To further streamline app development and testing, Mobile Labs has collaborated with IBM to develop mobile-app automation plug-in for IBM Urban Code Deploy, a part of the IBM Rational testing suite. This plug-in is an essential requirement for appropriate DevOps effectiveness via Continuous Integration (CI) in a mobile application domain. CI is developed with the ability to speedily deploy latest versions of applications into production identical processes, approve functionality, and then automate deployment into real production phase.

Mobile Labs continues to enhance its existing development processes for mobility while maintaining focus on security and manageability. “We have an eye on making development, testing, and support easy and cost-effective for enterprises with deviceConnect,” adds Addington. A customer-centric company, Mobile Labs provides customers with a “Test Your Way” philosophy that allows them to select an automation framework independent of deviceConnect. deviceConnect also supports the main app development tools, Xcode for iOS and Android Developer Studio, for app developers who need cloud devices. The company focuses on customer satisfaction to ensure that customers are achieving value for their investment in Mobile Labs.

Mobile Labs aims to continuously upgrade its device cloud to facilitate both managed and rapid access to production-equivalent devices and to foster better collaboration by all DevOps stakeholders. To build on their success, Mobile Labs, with its cost effective and secured mobility solutions, will continue to identify upcoming business opportunities with IBM. “Our technology development efforts are customer-requirement driven and have given us unparalleled device performance, security, and automations strategy support,” asserts Addington.