Beta Testing

What is a beta version of a software product?

It is product, which is an officially released. That includes most of the product's functionality. The beta version of a product is intended for external testing of a product. By doing this company can  identify configurations that cause problems, as well as collect feedback and requirements from real world users.

Before release of a beta version of official product, it undergoes a full cycle of internal testing, after which the application is released for real world users.

The beta testing is the second phase of software testing in software development, which is a sampling of the product for the audience to trie out. (Beta is the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet.). The term alpha testing meant the first phase of the testing in a software development process. The first phase includes system testing, component testing. Beta testing is like  "pre-release testing." Beta test versions of software are now distributed mostly to world wide of audience on the Web. which includes advantage like give the program a "real-world" testing and give audience a  preview of the upcoming release.

Beta testing for a product is prior to commercial release. It is the final stage of testing, and normally can involve sending the product to beta test sites outside the company for real-world exposure or offering the product for a free trial download over the Internet.

Reference:

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/B/beta_test.html
http://www.qbi.in/Careers/Career-as-software-quality-professional.aspx