The beta test is over, and Google Chrome 1.0 is now available for download.

But why did Google release version 1.0 so quickly? Chrome was first released just over three months ago, and when you consider the fact that Gmail is still in beta more than four years on, you have to wonder why?

Having an application in beta for too long is a common mistake. Too many companies are fixated on having every bug and minor issue 100% resolved before launch, almost always resulting in longer than anticipated delays.

As a general rule, software companies need to get their products out there as quickly as possible. While I’m obviously not advocating pushing-out your next product’s alpha version as 1.0, spending too long refining, optimising and polishing can be extremely damaging.

Software marketing starts wth getting the product out there, spreading the word and being seen. Launch doesn’t mean the end of the product’s development; you only need look at well-known applications and even operating systems to see that bugs and issues are no reason to delay a product’s release.