In order to ensure that consumers are guaranteed of quality user-experience whenever they purchase a new handset or device in the increasingly competitive global market, Ericsson has introduced its Device and Application Verification service help vendors test the quality of their offerings before launch into market.
Prior to this, only smartphones have been tested by Ericsson in this manner. With the introduction of the Device and Application Verification service, it is now possible to verify the quality of applications and machine-to-machine (M2M) devices as well.
The approach taken at Ericsson’s Experience Labs (which are equipped with the most innovative technology) all over the world helps vendors make devices more network-friendly and enables operators to make networks more device-friendly. It also reduces lead times and verification costs.
By connecting to an operator’s live network, Ericsson’s Experience labs help vendors verify device and application performance to meet the operator’s validation and acceptance tests. Ericsson’s automated verification tools help to accelerate the process to ensure that devices comply with regulatory, international and specific network requirements.
Paolo Colella, Head of Consulting & Systems Integration at Ericsson, says: “With this new service, device and application vendors have a lot to gain, especially when it comes to providing users with a high-quality experience of seamless, hassle-free services. Ensuring readiness before launching new devices and apps can also help build customer and brand loyalty, and attract new users.”
It’s not only terminals and smartphones that can be tested through the Device and Application Verification service, but also M2M products and customer-premises equipment. Any type of device or application can also be verified automatically, and certain key performance indicators (KPIs) may be monitored – for example, signaling load, data load and battery consumption.
Device and Application Verification is an integral part of Ericsson’s vision for the Networked Society in which the number of connected devices will increase, providing new services for people in all walks of life. It will become increasingly important for both vendors and operators to stay competitive and deliver high-quality services and a positive network experience.
The launch of the service comes a few months after the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) ordered Kenya’s four mobile phone service providers to switch off counterfeit devices from their networks through a process that began on September 30, 2012.
At the beginning of 2012, the number of counterfeit handsets connected to the networks was estimated to be about 2.5 million with Safaricom reportedly having the lion’s share on its network with 1.5 million handsets. At the end of the operation, Safaricom blacklisted and blocked 680,000 phones from its network, Telkom Orange locked out 75,000 phones while Airtel blocked 740,000 phones. YuMobile switched off another 45,000 phones.
