While most of us walk around with access to the latest communication applications that don’t require voice (and spend a great deal of time using them), voice communications are still the number one priority for mobile users everywhere. Even as we crave self-service, we still want the option of high quality voice interaction. As more and more solutions become available to support our voice connections online, the demand for RCS VoLTE grows.
Before a successful network can launch, however, VoLTE connections must be tested. During RCR Wireless News’ (News - Alert) LTE Device and Application Testing Procedures program, the emerging device testing trends of LTE carrier aggregation and LTE-Advanced were identified. While testing is essential, equipment manufacturers and operators are finding that balancing quality performance and time-to-market is a delicate dance.
A faulty device is definitely an expensive mistake. At the same time, those who are late to the party will lose a great deal of the profits, revenue and market share to the competition. RCS VoLTE testing can’t be the bottleneck if operators and manufacturers are going to succeed. Therefore, many different parties in this space have to come together to produce optimal results.
Testing standards are necessary to keep all players on the same field. It also helps to reduce the number of returned devices and unhappy customers who may flee to competitors due to one poor outcome. Likewise, customers don’t want to wait for access to the next best thing, especially if the competition is already offering it. Therefore, they need a better way to ensure that applications will perform correctly on their networks and for the customer base.
As RCS VoLTE offers considerable opportunities for operators, they must take the appropriate steps to ensure the success of this next stage of mobile communications. If they don’t have to worry about how the functionality will affect the user experience, the benefits can arrive much sooner than expected.
It helps that devices are getting smarter and more advanced on a regular basis. As such, they hit the market ready to meet growing customer expectations. The challenge is that the LTE (News - Alert) ecosystem is growing faster than any other wireless technology in the past, putting more pressure on networks and devices to perform at even higher standards out of the gate. Therefore, a standard approach to testing will ensure this pace can meet expectations on both sides of the transaction.
Edited by Blaise McNamee