Twitter has announced the release of its Alpha Testing program, which will allow certain users to try out some unreleased features, which the company has in the pipeline.
This is not the first time that Twitter has launched a user testing program. In August this year, the micro blogging website launched a beta testing program on Android that allows users to try early versions of the Twitter application. The testing program also allows users to try out other unreleased features, which are being developed to be included in the official Twitter mobile application.
However, the Alpha Testing program will also enable users to provide direct feedback and work directly with the company using a forum. Registered users will be giving feedback, suggestions and analysis on a voluntary basis and will not be paid.
Usually, a beta user just receives a new software build for testing purpose and beta users cannot interact with the company apart from sharing bug reports. However, Alpha Testing program users will interact directly with the company and user feedback will play an important role for Twitter to develop and release the final software build.
The Alpha Testing program is expected to have limited space and the company will be registering testers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Testers who are invited will receive a confirmation email with more details.
"The versions of the app in the Alpha Program contain more and earlier iterations of experiments and, as a result, could be less stable than the releases in the Android Experiment Program," per a post in the Twitter for Android Experiment Google Group.
Twitter says on its support page that by participating in the program, users will get access to experimental versions of the Twitter for Android app. Twitter will also show confidential and yet-to-be-released products or features that a registered user should keep secret.
Twitter has been continuously working on ways to improve upon its apps and hopefully the company's efforts with the Alpha Testing program may enable it to bring a better feel to the app.
