How to Become a Cell Phone Tester Before They’re Released to the Public

Do you love new gadgets? Do you enjoy getting the latest mobile phone that is available and trying out all of the new applications that it can access? This can get to be a pretty expensive hobby since new phones are constantly being released and most of the newest releases aren’t cheap. One great way to enjoy your love of new phone technology without sacrificing your entire budget to new phones is to learn how to become a cell phone tester.

What is a Cell Phone Tester?

A cell phone tester is someone who gets to test out mobile phones, mobile phone applications and new features on mobile phones before these are actually released to the public. A cell phone tester may get paid to do this work. More likely, this person will be volunteering in exchange for the chance to test out phones that aren’t yet available to the general public. In either case, the cell phone tester will have to test out the new product or features in a timely manner and will have to report on the results of the testing in some form or other to the people who have hired the tester. These reports may be written or verbal and may be formal or informal.

How to Become a Cell Phone Tester

It isn’t very easy to become a cell phone tester because of the fact that there are limited positions available for this type of job and there are a lot of people out there who would like to do it. However, it is possible to become a cell phone tester if you know where to look for this type of work.

Some of the things that you might do to become a cell phone tester include:

• Check the websites of the cell phone companies and handset makers that you like most. Each individual company may issues announcements on websites, job board and blogs that let the public know that they are interested in hiring cell phone testers. These posts will provide information on the exact details of applying for the job. The amount of testing work that you get will likely be limited since you’re working with only one company but you’ll get to try out the products that you are likely to like the most.

• Get a job with a cell phone company. A lot of those companies don’t advertise those jobs because they have in-house staff doing the testing. These are people who do other jobs for the company (such as customer service) but who also do some of the company’s cell phone testing. If you’re willing to work for a cell phone company then it’s a good way to get the opportunity to do cell phone testing for that same company.

• Attend mobile phone conventions and do some networking. Many of the people who get work as cell phone testers get that work because they know someone who knows someone. Get in with the right people by networking at mobile phone events and then put the word out there among your network that you’re looking to work as a cell phone tester.

• Check technology job boards. It’s rare but every once in awhile you will see a job come up for the position of cell phone tester. Common job boards (such as Monster and MySpace jobs) are a good place to look if this is something that you’re serious about trying to do. Keep an eye out on the jobs and gigs announcements on sites like Craigslist as well because beta testers are often advertised for on those sites. And check out mobile phone forums for the occasional company post about this.

• Apply to work as a writer / reviewer for mobile phone blogs, websites and magazines. Major mobile phone blogs and websites get access to a lot of the new mobile technology before it’s been officially released to the public. Their reviewers get paid to check out the newest mobile phones and mobile phone features and to write up their opinion about them for the sites. These jobs are hard to get and it’s best if you have experience as a tech writer but this is a great way to get work as a cell phone tester (and even get paid to do it!)

• Start your own mobile phone blog. This takes some time and patience but it’s one way that the average person can start getting a foot in the door to test mobile phones. Basically you’ll start your own mobile phone blog and report on the latest phone news. If you can develop this blog to the point where it is a high-quality blog then you can contact mobile phone companies and ask about the possibility of testing new phones in exchange for writing about them on your blog. People who are interested in unique phones from smaller companies and startups may be able to have some success with this approach.

Becoming a cell phone tester requires a combination of persistence and luck. An avid interest in mobile phones and a general passion for getting truly involved with the industry will assist you in getting closer to the opportunities that are available for testing out phones and phone features before they are released to the general public. Keep on putting the word out there that this is something that you’re interested in and there’s a good chance that some sort of chance to do this will come around.