Revolutionizing Mobile Testing: Prakash Gupta Discusses the AstroFarm Advantage with Joe Colantonio in his latest TestGuild Automation Podcast!

Mobile application development has seen a surge worldwide. On average, 1,653 new apps are released on Google Play per day. However, 70% of users switch away from an app because it’s very slow.  Rigorous quality assurance (QA) and testing are essential to verify the seamless functionality, security, and optimal performance of these applications across a wide range of devices and thus ultimately ensure a positive user experience in the highly competitive app market. 

Public device cloud platforms offer test devices, but they can be costly, often occupied, and may lack services for in-house device connections or specific device sets like rugged devices.

In Test Guild Automation Testing Podcast’s latest episode, Joe and Prakash, CTO of 42Gears talk how AstroFarm can be a game-changer for organizations wanting to build a private mobile device lab. 

The podcast delves into how AstroFarm was built to solve device access challenges for companies with geographically dispersed teams, constant device needs, and developers working on automation test cases.

You’ll get to know:

1. The need for a private mobile device lab

In the thick of the lockdown in March 2020, many companies, including 42Gears Mobility Systems, sought a solution for easy remote device access for development and testing purposes. Public device farm platforms were costly and impractical, leading the 42Gears team to develop a solution that would let us build our own private mobile device lab that will help us enable quick device access to distributed QA and DevOps teams. 

2. Why role-based access is key to improving your remote team’s productivity 

AstroFarm  offers role-based access and device categorization, allowing users to organize devices into folders and groups and assign them to a particular team for use. For example, your R&D team could have  around 200 devices, while the sales team, operating in different time zones, can have their own set of devices. This ensures different teams have access only to specific folders and devices, preventing overlap and increasing productivity.

3. How is AstroFarm different from AWS Device Farm or other open-source solutions?

AstroFarm offers a cost-effective solution compared to platforms like AWS device farm, with a monthly cost of around $250 per device. In contrast, buying devices in-house at $400 to $500 proves more economical for long-term use. Moreover, devices with barcode scanners, RFID readers, POS terminals, and VR capabilities that also need testing aren’t present in public device farms, making AstroFarm a valuable resource for QA engineers and developers.

4. Accessibility of rugged devices remotely with AstroFarm

Rugged handheld devices from companies like Honeywell or Zebra, although running on Android, require specific support for their unique functionalities. Public device farms do not offer support for rugged devices. Therefore, developers and testers working on applications for these devices can connect and share access through AstroFarm.

The conversation also extends beyond AstroFarm, touching on the increased adoption of VR, AR devices, and smartwatches in testing to the impact of AI on development and testing. 

Check out the entire podcast now to gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of mobile testing.
Watch the podcast here: Revolutionize your mobile testing with AstroFarm