Application developers can bridge the testing gap between CDMA and GSM
Aeroflex has launched a new development and conformance test system that can test applications running on all major cellular phones including GSM/EGPRS and W-CDMA. The Aeroflex Air Interface Monitor Emulator/Applications Test (AIME/AT) conformance test system can be used for all major phone types. In addition, it is the first test system of any kind that can test applications on GSM/W-CDMA and CDMA handsets on a single platform. The AIME/AT test system can be used for live network testing or in conjunction with any of Aeroflex’s GSM, W-CDMA and CDMA protocol test systems for deterministic lab testing.
“Application developers can no longer think of themselves as being part of either the CDMA or GSM world. Instead it is now essential to be able to market their applications globally. Our new multi-standard applications test platform will give them and their customers the ability to ensure that their products will work around the world without interoperability problems,” said Peter Connell, general manager, Aeroflex Burnham.
Aeroflex has taken a “protocol agnostic” approach to applications testing that is air interface independent. The AIME/AT platform will meet the current and future applications testing needs of handset manufacturers. Aeroflex’s test capability includes applications testing such as MMS (Multi-media Messaging Services); running these test cases was made mandatory by the GSM Certification Forum on December 1, 2004.
The AIME/AT test system can be used to verify that a cellular handset can pass all applicable minimum and application-enabled conformance tests, along with all operator-specific test plans. It can also be used to ensure data performance/throughput, application performance and recovery from network failure conditions.
Handset manufacturers are under pressure from network operators to deliver a plethora of applications during 2005 and early 2006. Although the protocol standards bodies are still working on the exact timeframes, the sheer volume of test cases to be delivered and tested will be challenging.
After MMS, the next two applications that will need certification are Video Telephony (two way images in real-time) and Digital Rights Management (to prevent data forwarding). Following those will be Video Streaming (downloading images), Instant Messaging, Push-To-Talk over Cellular, and Browsing. As test cases are defined, they can be downloaded and run on the Aeroflex AIME/AT test system.
With the new AIME/AT test system at the forefront of its development plans, Aeroflex has ensured that its applications test capability is available across all the company’s protocol test hardware including the 6103 AIME/CT for GSM and (E)GPRS, the CDMA-AIME system for CDMA2000, and the 6401 AIME/CT system for W-CDMA.