well,
Having been involved with projects that used this "frequent release" approach, the approach is applicable to situations where critical components of the overall delivery mechanism are already available. Using web and browser based delivery systems where application software and data can be delivered on a just-in-time basis, one can realistically think of delivering a useful product very early in the product development life cycle by adapting existing functionality in an intelligent fashion to address high-priority client issues. Delivering limited functionality outside the firewall early on may be viewed favorably from a marketing and competitive standpoint if expectations and risks are managed, positive word of mouth can be captured, and an early foothold in market share can be gained.

There may also be situations where a frequently-updated, partially functional beta approach might be viewed as inappropriate. For example, consider a comprehensive re-architecting of a complex financial, medical, or insurance system. The ability to employ a limited-functionality release mechanism could be seen as risky depending on the degree to which back-end or interfaced systems might be impacted during development, and depending on the actual access provided to a public beta. In such development efforts, a frequent-beta approach might be appropriate even if the overall availability of the beta software is restricted to a controlled development-and-test environment.

This could be an issue of "scope management" that any development manager will need to control, whether the product is a social software product appealing to pre-teens or a financial management product in a highly regulated business environment. Whatever the application, modern tools enable developers to communicate and obtain useful feedback in a fraction of the time than was possible in the past. With appropriate management practices and controls, many projects should be able to take advantage of early beta approaches, and we see the evidence of this all over the web.
source site: http://www.ddmcd.com/managing- technology/does-beta-software- have-meaning-in-a-web-20-world .html

Answered by Nidhi Singh , an ibibo Master, at 5:19 PM on September 24, 2008

When a new product is created or upgraded, there are several stages in development before the product can be sold in the commercial marketplace. The first stage is the alpha stage, in which the product is tested by software testers within the company and debugged as necessary. A betabetabeta versionversionversion is the name for the second stage of software testing, in which it is released for free or a reduced price to a group of users.

Though beta version products will often have all the features available in the final version of the product, they generally have limited, if any, technical support available to users. However, many products will often remain in beta version for years, during which time they are used by a wide audience as if they were full versions of products.

The word "beta" comes from the Greek, for the second letter in the alphabet. The term "beta version," or "beta test," originated with early hardware tests for IBM computers, where the beta test was used to examine whether the hardware properly performed all its listed functions.

For more visit :

http://www.wisegeek.com/w hat-i s-a-beta-version.htm

Answered by Ashish Yadav , an ibibo Wizard, at 3:06 PM on September 08, 2008

Though beta versions of software used to be made available only to developers, they are now sometimes made available for the general public to test, usually through the software company's Web site. However, because beta software is free, the programs usually expire after a period of time. If you choose to test a beta software program, don't be surprised if it has multiple problems and causes your computer to repeatedly crash. After all, it is the beta version. You can tell if a program is still in beta by checking the program's properties. If there is a "b" in the version number (i.e. Version: 1.2 b3) that means it's a beta version.

Answered by jaivir , an ibibo Master, at 1:24 PM on August 29, 2008

A software release is the distribution, whether public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product. Each time a software program or system is changed, the software engineers and company doing the work decide on how to distribute the program or system, or changes to that program or system. Software patches are one method of distributing the changes, as are downloads and compact discs.
Software release stages
Software release stages

The software release life cycle is composed of different stages that describe the stability of a piece of software and the amount of development it requires before final release. Each major version of a product usually goes through a stage when new features are added, or the alpha stage; a stage when it is being actively debugged, or the beta stage; and finally a stage when all important bugs have been removed, or the stable stage. Intermediate stages may also be recognized. The stages may be formally announced and regulated by the project's developers, but sometimes the terms are used informally to describe the state of a product. Conventionally, code names are often used by many companies for versions prior to the release of the product, though the actual product and features are rarely secret.

Answered by Om Prakash , an ibibo Master, at 7:40 PM on August 28, 2008

Hi VishalIn

A Beta version is a pre-release (not yet complete) version of new software often made available over the Internet to select prospective users for evaluation and feedback.

Thanks n regards, Suparn@

Answered by Suparna , an ibibo Master, at 6:23 PM on August 27, 2008

beta version is thetesting version in any software. there may be bugs and it is tested (Used) by the client as they write/ tells abt the bug ..r fixed by the developer

Answered by shaista , an ibibo Master, at 2:14 PM on August 27, 2008

well vishallin,

Alpha is the first complete version that the developers create. Beta is the testing version -- often open to a select group of clientele, or a testing group, to use to look for bugs, necessary changes to better fit the need, or other improvements. Some beta tests are open to the public; some are tested internally at the company only, or by "friends and family". Beta versions of software usually frequently change as the suggestions are implemented, bugs are fixed, etc. Once it is considered good enough for use, the final version of the beta goes live

Answered by Venkata , an ibibo Specialist, at 1:29 PM on August 27, 2008

well, When a new product is created or upgraded, there are several stages in development before the product can be sold in the commercial marketplace. The first stage is the alpha stage, in which the product is tested by software testers within the company and debugged as necessary. A betabetabeta versionversionversion is the name for the second stage of software testing, in which it is released for free or a reduced price to a group of users.

Though beta version products will often have all the features available in the final version of the product, they generally have limited, if any, technical support available to users. However, many products will often remain in beta version for years, during which time they are used by a wide audience as if they were full versions of products.

The word "beta" comes from the Greek, for the second letter in the alphabet. The term "beta version," or "beta test," originated with early hardware tests for IBM computers, where the beta test was used to examine whether the hardware properly performed all its listed functions.


Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-i s-a-beta-version.htm

Answered by Satya ~ , an ibibo Master, at 11:51 AM on August 27, 2008

Beta Version - A pre-shipping release of hardware or software that has gone through alpha test. A beta version of software is supposed to be very close to the final product, but, in practice, it is more a way of getting users to test the software in the first place under real conditions. Given the complexity and ambiguous standards in the PC industry, it is impossible to duplicate the myriad of configurations that exist in the real world.

Answered by Nishu's , an ibibo Master, at 11:14 AM on August 27, 2008

well vishal .....A software release is the distribution, whether public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product. Each time a software program or system is changed, the software engineers and company doing the work decide on how to distribute the program or system, or changes to that program or system. Software patches are one method of distributing the changes, as are downloads and compact discs.


Software release stagesThe software release life cycle is composed of different stages that describe the stability of a piece of software and the amount of development it requires before final release. Each major version of a product usually goes through a stage when new features are added, or the alpha stage; a stage when it is being actively debugged, or the beta stage; and finally a stage when all important bugs have been removed, or the stable stage. Intermediate stages may also be recognized. The stages may be formally announced and regulated by the project's developers, but sometimes the terms are used informally to describe the state of a product. Conventionally, code names are often used by many companies for versions prior to the release of the product, though the actual product and features are rarely secret.

for more inf check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwa re_release_life_cycle

Answered by raj u , an ibibo Master, at 11:14 AM on August 27, 2008