How to beta test a WP7 app?

Question

Is it possible to build an Ad Hoc build of our app and send it to our beta testers? Is this even possible?

Answer 1

Microsoft have just announced the beta test feature that @MattLacey had spoken off. Some of the benefits include

• Submitting your application for beta distribution is free.
• Submitting your application for beta distribution does not count against your submission credits.
• You put your application into the hands of testers prior to releasing the application to the general public.
• You have complete control over who can participate in the beta testing of your application.
• Users download and install your application using the standard Windows Phone Marketplace procedures.
• Your application can be tested on retail devices.
• Your users do not have to be registered developers.

Hopefully this process is as pains free and developer friendly as possible.

Answer 2

You can build the XAP for your application and distribute it to your beta testers, but they will require a developer unlocked phone to be able to deploy the application to their phone. There is no mechanism within the Marketplace to distribute an application as a beta to a wider audience. There are plenty of people out there with developer unlocked phones, so if you're looking for beta testers, you could always post a message on Twitter using the #wp7dev hashtag.

Answer 3

Microsoft have repeatedly said that this functionality will be coming (it was promised before launch) but a formal method for doing this is not presently available and there is no official time scale for it.

If you're not able/willling to share your XAP file then some people have suggested just releasing it to the marketplace in it's beta form and making it clear that it is still a beta. e.g. call it MyAppBeta; be explicit about the beta status in the marketplace description and in the app.

Once testing is over you can remove the beta app and add the real version.