I'd like to leave a review to counter the people saying "you'll never be picked for anything".
I cannot say much as they make you sign NDAs for these things, but I have tested multiple gaming peripherals that I have even been allowed to keep. You just have to fill your account out with as much information as possible and wait; check your e-mail often. I made my account a long time ago and only really began to get picked for interesting things recently. It's definitely a fun and rewarding hobby for those who are interested. I definitely think it's cool seeing a product I got to test on the shelves.
Betabound actually connects potential testers to companies through the Centercode testing platform. A company says "Hey! I need testers!" and Betabound says "Here ya go!". So strive to be a good potential tester or tester.
BP
Ben P.
Amazing beta test experience
I have worked on a lot of Beta tests with Beta Bound over the last 6 years.
Betabound provide a platform that can be used by companies all around the world. So far I have done beta testing for a Cable TV set top box company, three different network hardware providers as well as multiple headsets (I didn't realise how many may not even come to market or change massively based on Beta Testers feedback).
Each company and test is different, some are as short as four weeks, others can last for months (or even be continually ongoing). My longest one so far is about 3 years and I get software updates and functionality sometimes months before it gets pushed out to the public.
Occasionally, as a beta tester, we work with some of the staff at BetaBound who manage the beta on behalf of some of their own clients.
They ship the hardware our for free. If we have to return hardware at the end, this is paid for as well.
I have been fortunate that a number of beta's I have been on, I was allowed to keep the hardware. Sometimes we have to return it as it is not yet fully licensed and still in development (for example, a device may need to have final licensing approved by regulatory bodies in some or all countries that it will be sold in).
The most impressive Beta I have completed to date was for an audio company where feedback that I gave made it to the final product that is now on the retail stores globally.
As a beta tester, we can talk generically about what we do, but we are under non-disclosure agreements not to talk about specific brands, what we learn, find out and what works / does not work etc.
Sometimes, some companies who are doing a trail will reward testers with limited edition branded merchandise for completing daily / weekly / monthly journals and surveys.
So even though you are not 'paid' for your time, you can get to use and try things you would not normally and also get things that are not available to the public.
In summary, I have not found another beta platform or team who are better. They never ask 'for your credit card' or to 'pay a deposit' as some sites do. This is real world beta testing and if you like to try out new things, it is worth trying.
You can see a list of companies that use the BetaBound platform and see how people test everything from Batteries to Satellite Phones, Software companies through to Robotics companies and everything in-between.
Sometimes it is frustrating when you are testing an amazing gadget and can't talk about it, but that is the nature of beta testing.
If you have never done it, I would highly recommend it.