Up until just a few days ago, the Google Play Store used a beta testing system that required beta testers to be tied to either a specific Google+ communities or a Google Group. Not everyone wants to do that, though, so Google is changing this by rolling out two new options for developers that don’t force anyone into using a social network that they don’t want to.

The first option includes secret beta testing links. This was the method commonly employed by Google+ beta tests, although there’s now no requirement to join a community – you just need to have the link. Additionally, developers can place a hard cap on the number of testers.

The second option allows for closed betas using email addresses. Developers will be able to let individual users through, or they have the option to upload a CSV file with a list of email addresses that can have access to the beta test.

The former methods will continue to work, as well – and that’s good, because we like options!

[Google]

It’s now possible to join a beta on Google Play without a Google Plus account or Google Groups by John Freml first appeared on Pocketables.