Currently mobile devices are tooled up with location services. Ability to determine location is very useful and is utilized by different mobile programs and by users directly.
There are few common ways of identifying the position used by mobile devices. Many mobile phones, smartphones and tablets utilize several of them simultaneously. But the most often used and familiar to users is Global Positioning Satellite or GPS.
GPS technology is based on receiving necessary information from near-earth satellites. GPS must get information from at least one satellite in order to determine the location. Information from several satellites is needed for more precise positioning.
But GPS service is resource consuming and it takes much time to process satellites signals. That is why other methods of identifying position are frequently used.
Usual Methods of Position Determining Besides GPS Are:
1.Identifying position with the help of cellular towers. The location may be calculated not very precisely if the calculations are based on signals from only one cellular tower. Signals from several towers should be processed for more accurate location.
2. Identifying position basing on the current location of WiFi device to which the mobile phone, smartphone or tablet is connected at the moment.
3. If the device is connected to the Internet with the help of wire, the location can be determined by the IP address.
The first two methods are often used together with GPS in order to determine location more precisely. For the most accurate positioning accelerometer magnetometer and gyroscope are utilized as assistive instruments.
Identifying of position is frequently used function of mobile devices. This function helps mobile users to receive live information about weather, discounts on local services or products, traffic and so on. It is often necessary to check during mobile application testing if the function works correctly within the tested program.
The Common Purposes of Determining Location by Mobile Devices Are:
1. If the location is determined the user does not need to enter it in a software product in order to receive necessary information, for instance, about local services or traffic.
2. Determining of location is needed for mapping services. Location service is meant to operate on the move on a mobile device. So, the information about your position is constantly updating. It is wise to check the function performing mobile testing of a program applying it.
3. Location services are utilized for promotional purposes. If the mobile user is near a store or a business center he or she can get the information about products and services provided there.
4. Determining of position is used in some mobile games.
A software testing company advices to consider function of location determining exacting mobile application testing.
Function of determining location is common for mobile devices, but it is usually not necessary on personal computers. So, web site testing or desktop testing does not assume checking it.