Babel is pleased to announce it has become the first test house to verify an App on the newly launched App Quality Directory, www.qualityappdirectory.org, an exciting new initiative launched by AQuA to bring a quality level to the App publishing market. The app - WLAN Scan - is from Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Finland and is a WiFi / WLAN network scanning app, displaying the SSID, signal level and channels within the area, enabling users to assess the least-crowded channels within their neighbourhood.

Babel, known as the industry leader in Mobile QA and Localisation services for the games and interactive market, is actively backing the AQuA initiative, with its team taking an active part in the development of the standards. Taking its knowledge base from performing over 20,000 QA tests of Apps and mobile content, and having one of the largest handset libraries in the industry, Babel is the ideal test house to be involved in the AQuA initiative.

Richard Leinfellner, CEO of Babel, commented “As App developers bring a wealth of content to the various stores and market places the consumer can often be left wondering if the download could be harmful to their device or just be a plain waste of money. The AquA quality initiative helps consumers differentiate between high quality 3^rd party tested applications/games and ones which may crash all the time or worst case be harmful to their devices .”

Martin Wrigley, chair of AQuA, commented “Babel is one of only four AQuA-approved test houses, chosen by us because of their level of professionalism and commitment to understanding and satisfying developers’ needs in the area of testing. We know there are hundreds of apps out there that already meet or could meet the common-sense quality level specified in our Testing Criteria, and we’re now giving these developers the opportunity to boast about their excellent commitment to QA via the Directory.”

Kari Salo, Principal lecturer in Metropolia, commented "We share the idea of quality apps and have incorporated the AQuA Testing Criteria for Android applications in our curriculum".

For details contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call us on +44 1273 764100 (Europe) +1514 904 3700 (Montreal)

Notes to Editor

Babel is the leading global provider of outsourced specialist services to the games and interactive entertainment industries. Founded in 1999, the company is part of the renowned Quatrro Group of companies, pioneers in business transformation.

Babel’s award winning service provides highly cost effective quality assurance testing, text translation, English and localised audio recording and localised print for PC, Console, Mobile, Social and Casual titles. Babel is an approved Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation and Nintendo QA test partner, a registered developer of Apple, Android and QUALCOMM, as well as an official test house for Nokia and Java Verified.

Babel works with a wide range of clients’, including SCE, SEGA, Nintendo, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Microsoft, THQ, Warner Bros, DreamWorks, Digital Chocolate, Gameloft, Nokia, BBC, Popcap, Netflix, Shazam, Square Enix, Atari, Namco Bandai, Activision-Blizzard, LucasArts, Konami, Bethesda Softworks, Webzen and Take 2.

The App Quality Alliance (AQuA) is a worldwide mobile industry body comprising device manufacturers, carriers and others within the mobile application market place. It is funded by the members - AT&T, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Oracle, Orange, Samsung, Sony Mobile - for the benefit of the industry. The aim is to reduce fragmentation across the industry (and within platforms) and encourage wide-spread adoption of sound working practices to increase the quality of mobile applications, across all platforms.

Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland’s largest university of applied sciences, educates the professionals of tomorrow in the fields of culture, business, health care and social services, and technology. The Degree Programme in Media Engineering from the technology field has a long history in mobile technology training and has been pioneering Android programming courses in Finland.