For developers and operators developing mobile content, one of the biggest challenges is making sure sites and services work across the full range of devices and carrier networks.

Keynote Systems today addressed that challenge with the release of its new Keynote Mobile Interactive Testing Environment (MITE), a desktop testing tool that validates content and apps across more than 1100 device profiles. The tool takes that added step of conducting the tests over live Internet or carrier network links, ensuring developers see and feel the same experience users do.

“There are a lot of emulation tools, but very few let you go over the live network,” said Nisheeth Mohan, product manager at Keynote. “We have a very deep emulation environment; you can send and receive SMS messages, audit short codes and more, all in one complete package.”

Mobile devices are proliferating like never before, featuring different screen sizes, form factors, operating systems and mobile browsers. Taking into account all of those different factors can seem an insurmountable challenge, Mohan said, noting that developers today often build to a certain base level and then hope for the best that their content will display well on most devices.

Keynote MITE provides a desktop interface that emulates how specific devices will display mobile content. In addition to the built-in 1100 profiles, developers can use the tool to create new device and network profiles. The tool allows developers to record and playback scripts for automating the test process. In addition to seeing the content display in real-time, the tool reports download times and browser redirections to further reflect a user’s actual experience with the content.

Beyond mobile content developers, the tool should appeal to teams within mobile operators responsible for maintaining carrier home pages and content decks and working with content partners, Mohan said.

Developers can download a 15-day trail of MITE from mite.keynote.com; a full single-user license costs $1500 per year.