ACTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Azimuth Systems, Inc. today announced the evolution of its over-the-air test platform, developed to measure and analyze performance of mobile devices in their native states, under real-world conditions. Intelligent Over-The-Air (iOTA) revolutionizes lab testing by enabling device performance to be tested through the complete radio frequency (RF) chain under highly configurable scenarios, including playback of data from drive routes to emulate actual and familiar network conditions. In addition to traditional throughput tests, iOTA also includes application automation to run test cases simulating typical subscriber usage. While most solutions in the industry stop at running the test, iOTA provides end-to-end functionality by allowing users to precisely correlate user experience results with network information for enhanced root cause isolation. Azimuth's over-the-air platform has been accepted in a Tier 1 operator's mobile device test plan, and in the labs of the top global device OEMs. Azimuth is also actively participating in the standards process for over-the-air performance testing.
As mobile networks become more complex—with the deployment of MIMO, carrier aggregation, and HetNet—so are the devices connecting to them. Both the network environment and device utilization need to be represented as precisely as possible to deliver meaningful, repeatable test results. Traditionally, testing of mobile devices in the lab occurs in conducted mode, whereby the RF port of the device is opened and connected to the testbed via a cable. This method has delivered sufficiently accurate results but has always ignored the impact on performance of a critical component of the device: the antenna. Over-the-air testing entails running the same type of tests but with network information delivered through the antenna, with the device in a shielded chamber to enable more control over environmental factors.
iOTA further augments traditional over-the-air testing, by:
- going beyond antenna measurements typical of standard OTA solutions, to benchmark multiple devices and predict performance in market
- replaying network conditions captured during drive testing for more relevant scenarios
- applying application automation and network profiling analytics to enable correlation of user experience with network conditions
- utilizing a portable chamber that can be reconfigured for alternative test cases in minutes rather than days.
By enhancing prediction of performance in subscriber scenarios under real-world conditions, iOTA enables more efficient development, qualification, marketing and troubleshooting of mobile devices. Device manufacturers and component suppliers can validate or revise designs further upstream in the development process. Operators can ensure that devices perform as expected on their networks prior to launch, troubleshoot issues found once devices are in market, or identify root causes for returns. According to operator customers, Azimuth’s iOTA test results reveal performance differences between devices that are more predictive of experience in the field, and that are not made obvious in conducted testing. Azimuth’s own independent testing—comparing the performance of a set of devices on a drive test on a live network, with the performance of the same devices on iOTA replaying the channel conditions of that drive test in the lab—demonstrates that results from iOTA can be used to predict relative performance among devices, with the efficiency of a contained, controlled test environment.
To learn more, download the Azimuth white paper, Accelerate Device Excellence: Mobile Performance Testing In The Lab, at http://www.azimuthsystems.com/resource-library/white-papers/.
About Azimuth Systems
Azimuth Systems Inc. is a leader in mobile performance test solutions for network operators, device OEMs, chipset vendors and infrastructure providers. The industry is in an unprecedented period of transition, with the introduction of major new network, device and service technologies, and aggressive competition for an increasingly saturated market. Azimuth delivers systems and software to enable measurement and correlation of user experience, device performance and network events, facilitating rapid identification and resolution of issues, maximizing quality and customer satisfaction, and minimizing time-to-market and network impact. The company is based in Acton, Massachusetts, USA with sales offices around the world. Contact Azimuth at +1 (978) 263-6610 or at www.azimuthsystems.com. Follow Azimuth on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/azimuthsystems.
Azimuth® is a registered trademark of Azimuth Systems. Intelligent Over-The-Air (iOTA) is a trademark of Azimuth Systems.
