Google Makes It Easier to Sign Up for App Betas

Google on Thursday introduced new beta testing tools in the Developer Console for app developers to improve the beta testing management. While the new tools offer new ways for app developers to address bugs and other issues without negatively impacting their app listing. The new tools also make it easier for users to sign-up for beta testing without following multiple steps.

(Also see: Google Follows Apple Lead, Paid Apps on Play Store Now Start at Rs. 10)

Open beta is the first new tool in Developer Console that allows app developers to add new users via a link to join the beta with just one click. Ellie Powers, Product Manager, Google Play notes that one of the advantages of an open beta is that it allow developers to scale to a large number of testers. The tool also lets developers limit the maximum number of users who can join.

The second new tool is the Closed beta which allows developers to invite new users to test their apps via email address. "If you want to restrict which users can access your beta, you have a new option: you can now set up a closed beta using lists of individual email addresses which you can add individually or upload as a .csv file. These users will be able to join your beta via a one-click opt-in link," notes Powers.

(Also see: Google Play Starts Showing Sponsored Apps in Search Results)

According to Google, 80 percent of app developers with popular apps normally run beta tests as part of their workflow. The company believes that the beta tests are "critical part of their [developers] workflow in testing ideas, gathering rapid feedback", and helps improve their apps.

The company lists some app developers who routinely run beta tests including Wooga, the creators of Diamond Dash, Jelly Splash, and Agent Alice, and Vector Unit, who uncovered issues in their Beach Buggy Racing app via beta testing. Google also lists Kabam, who has worked with Hollywood studios for Fast & Furious, Marvel, Star Wars, and The Hobbit.

Recently, Google announced that paid or sponsored Search Ads would appear in Google Play. The Search Ads would work just like how the ads work on Google Search, with the sponsored results clearly labelled as ads and placed above organic results. The company believes that the Search Ads could allow people to discover apps which they never installed and used. Google also unveiled new app promo tools for advertisers and developers, including 'Android First app opens', a new conversion tracking solution for developers and advertisers to measure when a user first opens an app after clicking on an ad and completing an Android app install.