I have released a Beta app on the marketplace and ended up confused and ultimately disappointed by the functionality associated with marking your app as beta via the beta checkbox. From what I can see, the only way a customer can identify a beta app is via filters. Even in this case, the beta filter is reasonably obscure amongst the various filter options. I fully expected there to be a visual indicator on the listing page.
From a Marketplace Partner perspective, I was also frustrated by the lack of reporting for beta apps. A beta app must be listed as a free app (this makes perfect sense). However, free apps do not provide download and contact details for customers. As a developer with a beta app, customer feedback is critical.
For this reason, I suggest that reporting should be available for beta apps. However, maybe you want to limit the amount of time an app can be Beta (and Free), forcing developers to provide the app as a free app or a paid app once the Beta term is complete.
Suggestion
I have released a Beta app on the marketplace and ended up confused and ultimately disappointed by the functionality associated with marking your app as beta via the beta checkbox. From what I can see, the only way a customer can identify a beta app is via filters. Even in this case, the beta filter is reasonably obscure amongst the various filter options. I fully expected there to be a visual indicator on the listing page.
From a Marketplace Partner perspective, I was also frustrated by the lack of reporting for beta apps. A beta app must be listed as a free app (this makes perfect sense). However, free apps do not provide download and contact details for customers. As a developer with a beta app, customer feedback is critical.
For this reason, I suggest that reporting should be available for beta apps. However, maybe you want to limit the amount of time an app can be Beta (and Free), forcing developers to provide the app as a free app or a paid app once the Beta term is complete.