An evaluation of mobile end devices in multimedia streaming scenarios

Abstract

This paper compares handhelds based on the iPhone and Android operating systems in multimedia streaming scenarios. We simulate typical Internet network impairments, i.e. packet delay and packet loss, and evaluate their effects on the end devices. Additional evaluations include bandwidth overhead inflicted by the different streaming approaches and traffic shape and fairness when both handhelds consume media simultaneously. Based on the quantitative evaluation, both approaches show weaknesses and strengths. A final qualitative discussion points out additional advantages for the streaming approach implemented in the iPhone operating system. © Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2010.