[kenjackson]

The release and tweak model works well for web apps -- today. Because there is no real review model for web apps.

Mobile apps are a lot more like movies. Opening weekend means a LOT. If you are weak out the gate, you'll have bad reviews. When you update, no one will care, because not many people will buy the updated app because of all the one-star reviews.

The only time this doesn't apply is if you a huge built in userbase like Facebook, where even with bad reviews, people will still get the updated version of the app.

[ZoFreX]

What would you advise then for app developers - how easy is it to operate a closed beta on Android or iPhone, for example?

[joelhaus]

For Android, the market can be avoided by just offering the .apk file (e.g. you can self-host the .apk and only share the link with a select group, or if that's not secure enough, require a unique key to unlock the app once it's loaded).

More here: http://www.google.com/search?q=android+sideload+apk

P.S. Has anyone had success developing an Android app with Google's App Inventor tool (http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/index.html)?

[msbarnett]

On iOS it is quite easy using the excellent TestFlight service: http://testflightapp.com/

[kenjackson]

I don't know for iphone and Android, but Windows Phone just added private betas :-)