TestQuest targets automated testing of handheld computers
"Like many technology markets, developers of hardware and software for handheld devices are under tremendous pressure to deliver new solutions to the market as soon as possible," said Martin Hahn, President and CEO of TestQuest, Inc. "In the handheld computer industry, and especially in the Palm developer community, this issue has been aggravated by the complete lack of tools for testing handheld applications on their target hardware. As a result, developers of handheld applications and hardware dedicate an unusually large amount of time and money to manual tests conducted on the handheld computer itself. With the TestQuest Pro Handheld System for Palm, developers can now automate this process to reduce their time to market, reduce their test expenses and improve the quality of their products."
The new product, the TestQuest Pro System for Palm, automates the process of testing handheld computers by mimicking the presence of a user executing a predefined script of actions. Since the TestQuest Pro System for Palm connects directly to the contacts of the handheld computer under test, the tests run in exactly the same environment as if a user had manually entered the commands via the handheld's native interface. The solution is capable of simulating any kind of user interaction including stylus strokes, stylus taps, graffiti and discreet actions using buttons on the handheld's front panel. The solution also captures images on the LCD output of the device and uses either font recognition or a bitmap comparison to a valid result to determine the success or failure of each test. A flexible and comprehensive logging facility documents the results of each test. Said Hahn, "This comprehensive test functionality allows the solution to execute and confirm literally any function that handheld computers are capable of performing including ‘beaming', synchronization and Internet access via wireless connections or modems."
TestQuest test automation solutions for Palm developers are available immediately in versions that support any model of handheld computer from Palm, Inc. including the Palm III, Palm V and Palm VII handhelds. Future TestQuest solutions will support a wide variety of additional handheld devices including Windowsâ CE devices such as Pocket PC's, personal digital assistants, cell phones, and others.
With headquarters in Eden Prairie, MN, TestQuest is the leading provider of non-intrusive test automation solutions. TestQuest's products and services are used by engineering and test groups in a variety of industries, including manufacturers of PC's, handheld computers, industrial controllers and interactive television set-top boxes, for a wide range of test applications such as hardware functional testing, qualification testing, testing for regulatory compliance and regression testing. By automating these time-intensive processes, TestQuest's customers are realizing several strategic benefits including reduced time-to-market, reduced cost of testing and improved product quality. More information about TestQuest, Inc. is available at http://www.testquest.com.
Edited by Paul O'Shea
Managing Editor, TestandMeasurement.com