Pedestrians are reflected in a logo of Sony Corp
Pedestrians are reflected in a logo of Sony Corp outside its showroom in Tokyo July 16, 2014. Reuters/Yuya Shino

Sony Mobile has a new service to help developers test, verify and correct apps on several Xperia devices. It is a free service accessible via Web interface and enables developers to test everything needed without buying an actual Xperia device.

Remote Device Lab Beta

App developers can now test, verify and correct applications for Sony Xperia devices via Web interface free of charge using the Remote Device Lab. It offers a Web interface usable for developers to ensure quality applications and compatibility among different Xperia devices without the need of buying an actual unit.

The service consists of several real devices that can be connected remotely for easier access to apps via Web interface. The devices are equipped with SIM cards and data traffic has been enabled. Here are confirmed devices accessible via Remote Device Lab:

1. Xperia Tablet Z running Android 4.4.4

2. Xperia Z1 running Android 4.4.4

3. Xperia Z running Android 4.4.2

4. Xperia Z1 Compact running Android 4.4.4

5. Xperia Z Ultra running Android 4.4.4

6. Xperia Z2 running Android 4.4.4

7. Xperia Z3 running Android 4.4

8. Xperia Z3 Compact running Android 4.4.4.

Most functions are enabled during the session, except for phone calls and messaging. Each session lasts 30 minutes, and developers can upload and install apps directly on the device via Web interface. Once the session ends, the device will reset and nothing will be saved.

Scope And Limitation Of Remote Device Lab

For developers, Remote Device Lab is exclusive among Sony Xperia devices but only supports newer models. Below are some of the important details about the free service:

- Aside from phone calls and messaging, audio, power key, Android Debug Bridge and screen recording are not supported.

- English is the primary language used but can be changed by choosing the preferred language on the Language settings menu.

- Remote Device Lab requires a Web browser and a valid account such as Sony Smartphone, Google or Facebook.

- Wi-Fi network is supported as well, with SSID cage1 and password sonymobile.

- All new Xperia models are intended to be supported.

- Devices from other brand manufacturers are not supported.

For more technical information about Remote Device Lab, click here to visit the official website. It is currently in beta version with minor issues occurring at times, and Sony is working for fixes.