This year, the revenue from mobile application testing tools will exceed $200 million (£125 million), according to a new report from ABI Research. About three-quarters of this comes from tools that enhance manual testing.
However, automated testing is expected to drive growth over the next few years, with app testing revenue approaching $800 million by the end of 2017.
ABI Research notes that testing mobile software is more demanding than testing computer software due to the diversity of devices, operating systems and networks. It also points out that mobile testing has evolved as a new business sector and not as an extension to the traditional software testing industry.
Aapo Markkanen, senior analyst at ABI Research, said “At the moment, there are two clear market leaders in Keynote’s DeviceAnywhere and Perfecto Mobile, but they are being increasingly challenged by disruptive entrants such as Experitest and Soasta. The client needs will change as the user interfaces and the features of apps change, so no vendor can rest on its laurels. In a few years’ time, the most sough-after testing vendors will be the ones that can address the client enterprises’ needs comprehensively, regardless of the form factor and the input method. That will lead to some level of industry consolidation.”
[Report]