Ascom QVoice Mobile Video Testing - How to Nurture the new "Killer App"
09 May 2005
As third generation mobile phone networks finally start to take off worldwide, there are increasingly clear signs that the industry has discovered its new “killer application”. The mobile phone is now developing its full potential, capable of additional functions ranging from games and music through messaging and digital photography to mobile television services – the “killer application” that will differentiate new 3G services from existing 2G and 2.5G.
At last, all that extra bandwidth can offer a genuine justification for its existence. The new cellular video services offer video MMS, live TV, video clips (anything from downloads lasting a few seconds through to complete video streaming lasting up to several minutes) – and video telephony.
The Eyes Have It
The appeal of the new offerings is obvious. Whether for private or business customers, the “eyes have it” – and with video telephony, callers can see the person at the other end live on their display.
Many operators are aware that much will ride on initial customer perceptions of whether they are actually able to deliver on their promises – in particular, whether networks can meet the quality demands of the new high-bandwidth functionalities.
And helping deliver quality is where the market-leading QVoice family of mobile network testing and monitoring equipment takes centre stage. Ascom of Switzerland is once again offering mobile network operators worldwide the necessary “ring of confidence” to take a bet on a volatile but exciting new technology.
From Voice to Video
QVoice first hit the market in 1993 and assumed the position of market leader for assessing Quality of Service and benchmarking on mobile networks thanks to its unique technological ability to mimic real-life subscriber perceptions. It has maintained that position ever since, despite a bewildering pace of technological change.
When it comes to 3G networks, Ascom has made some considerable technical changes – including a shift in underlying technologies – but the basic principles of success remain the same: QVoice test protocols are based on recognised key performance indicators which refer clearly to internationally accepted standards.
The QVoice 3G testing approach is based on comprehensive video and audio quality mean opinion scores (MOS), which enable operators to benchmark or measure each network the same way – an approach proved over time to be the only reliable way to compare or evaluate network performance.
Seeing What They See
Video content can be downloaded or streamed. From the testing perspective, they pose different problem sets. Downloading will give perfect reproduction but requires time and storage capacity; streaming is virtually real-time, but is susceptible to quality impairment because of its minimum bandwidth and transmission quality requirements.
Video streaming tests are performed on any live streaming content – in other words, the streams that subscribers really see. This is important for technical reasons, because different contents put different demands on network performance, meaning that real live content as subscribers see it is the sole genuinely realistic test. The use of real-life streams is also important in commercial terms; testing with an artificial stream does not make sense for the simple reason that it does not reflect real experience.
Testing Telephony
Measurements for video telephony, as for streaming, include tests on service access, service set-up / cut-off, set-up time etc. Video and speech quality can also be measured using MOS values.
The QVoice offer comprises two types of tests: video service bearer and full video telephony measurements. The former checks where, when and if the connection used for video telephony service can be accessed and/or successfully held to completion.
