Walk / Indoor Testing

Mobile Communications

Mobile phone and Smartphone use is on the rise globally with worldwide subscribers now exceeding two billion.

Wireless services are still mostly based on simple communications such as voice, Email and SMS/MMS; however, the adaptation of 3G networks in developed mobile markets is rapidly spreading. The driving force being the promise of emerging 'rich' multimedia high-speed IP-data services that range from high quality streaming video and fast downloads of large files to video telephony and interactive service applications such as advanced gaming.

Mobile Network Testing

Most mobile network tests take the form of drive tests, using measurement vehicles loaded down with hi-tech equipment. But it does not give the full picture – mobile phones go many places that cars and other vehicles cannot – and customers do not expect network quality to end where the road ends. QVoice Companion Backpack was engineered to test voice and data quality in all the non-conventional situations described below.

Moving Users

For mobile phone customers, mobility is primary importance. They have grown accustomed to the freedom and convenience that mobile voice/data services bring. And, they want to use their portable devices everywhere – professionally, while on-the-job, and privately, off-hours. Students, house wives, youth and the retired are also segments of the mobile user population not to be overlooked.

To many individuals – and organizations – mobile phones, Smartphones and other cellular devices has become their most important communication device.

Classical 'Out-of-Car' Environments

Users, understandably, would like to make and receive mobile calls wherever they are, – even while ride an elevator – and most would like to have as well internet access – either directly on their phone or by using a 3G network card inserted into a PC.

They are expecting operators to deliver excellent high-quality coverage at their place of work and in other 'off-road' locations which are notably more 'outdoors' than 'indoors.' The most popular 'non-vehicle' environments can be summarized as follows:

• At work employees move around attending meetings, taking a coffee break or often away outside the office with a client. With the percentage of corporations using mobile services rising – employees need to be constantly connected as well as reachable.
• Each year millions of people attend events held at convention centers throughout the world. While attending these events, attendees often need to be in continuous communication with their customers, co-workers, and others and they rely on mobile phones to facilitate those communications.

Other indoor user locations include airports, railway stations, hotels and restaurants.

• Casual time is still 'contact' time – users want to walk, talk even shop when they are out and about. This means city-center pedestrian areas and shopping malls and for students university campuses and surrounding public parks.
• Increasingly, participants in sports ranging from skiing and mountaineering to sailing and paragliding have come to expect reliable network coverage even in the most extreme physical locations and weather conditions. Performance test in such areas obviously places considerable extras demands on both the person and equipment carrying out the monitoring activity.
• Holiday resorts and recreational past-times are fast-growing customer segments and once again place added demands on the test equipment, particularly when it comes to ensuring network quality in rapid-change environments such as fairgrounds and amusement parks. Playgrounds, seafronts promenades and sport arena are other common examples when mobile network access must be provided.

Conclusion

With 3G and mobile data usage on the rise, there is an urgent need for mobile operators to improve and ensure indoor and remote area performance of their networks. Today, subscribers are looking for mobile solutions everywhere they go.

In order to stay on top of the network, troubleshoot weak spots; maintain optimization as well as benchmark competition, operators need accurate measurement data network wide. The right test equipment from an experienced supplier will make the job easier and results more reliable.

Improving in-building and remote area coverage will help drive up revenue per user, particularly from enterprise customers and block these high value customers from looking to competing operators.