When you give a phone lover phones to test, that is like giving water to someone that is thirsty. I love phones so much, about 7 years ago I worked with a company that fixes phone. So getting a job to test devices was really fun for me. While surfing the net one day, I saw an opportunity to assist a China phone company that was still trying to establish it's name in Africa.
The name of the brand is Infinix Mobility, it was a brand new company when I came across it. Most of the phones they make uses MediaTek (MTK) technology. I was not really a fan of MTK, but I loved the way it could easily be modified.
Meeting Infinix
An old photo with an Infinix Staff
I cannot really remember the exact time I came across it, but later I joined the social network they created to help it's users. The name of the social network was Infinix Xclub. Previously, I had learnt how to repair phones, but only issues relating to hardware. In Infinix Xclub, I was exposed to the software part of it, there I learnt how to solve small problems that are common with smartphones.
Working as A Device Tester
After some months of software training, I started working as a device tester. It was a part time job, I did not have to go to any physical location. All that was needed was access to the Internet and some Infinix phones. Also a system tool called "SP Flash Tool" for fixing phones ROMs. My account on the Xclub website was also updated to reflect my new role in the company's affairs.
I learnt how to find bugs, the company really needed a third party to help the developers out. I also had to help out with some new users on the Xclub website who had issues with their phones. I bought their best phone at that time, it was called the Infinix Hot Note, it had a battery of 4,000mAh. It was really good for entrepreneurs, it sold well. I even recommended it for some friends, they liked it too.
Within a short time, I started getting phones from the company to help them test it. Testing phones sounds easy, but finding bugs was a bit tough. I had to search every feature it had, to find some bugs. Sometimes, I usually come across bugs that are peculiar to some phones.
I was also testing updates too, new updates were sent to Device testers to test before it was released for the general public. There was a time my phone got bricked as soon as I installed an update (Brick is a term used when a phone becomes stock in the boot menu). I had to learn how to unbrick a phone.
Why I Stopped
After a few years, I decided to quit, though I enjoyed working for the company. I came to find out that the handler (the person that manages device testers) was stealing phones that were supposed to get to us, he started giving to only one or two testers and took the rest for himself. I tried reaching Head Quarters, but he tried to cut my link, which he eventually did.
Another reason is that I had love for Samsung phones, especially the note series. So I had a Samsung phone and an Infinix phone, I didn't really like that. I wanted one phone, I couldn't use only the Samsung unless I quitted. So I had to quit.
All images with "jotography" are original and snapped by @sahrodion for the purpose of this writeup. You could check out his blog :)
Thanks for reading. I will love to hear your opinions :)
