Sony wants 10,000 Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact owners to test its Android Marshmallow concept software

Early this summer, Sony announced a new Concept for Android software testing scheme in which it invited owners in specific markets, and with specific handsets, to test out new concept software. Seemingly it went well for Sony, as it announced this morning that it’s opening up a similar program for Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Users with the Xperia Z3 or Z3 Compact in a number of countries will be able to apply to join the program. This news comes just a day after the manufacturer released its long list of devices which should receive Marshmallow over the coming months.

Initially Sony is offering the program to 10,000 users in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, UK, Ireland and Germany. The company notes that this new Marshmallow-based concept software is built on some of the feedback it received from the first Concept for Android program. Sony promises that concept software is built on the fundamentals of great battery life, fast performance and frequent updates as well as a “sleek user interface”.

Rather than merely previewing a new software version, this is about a proof-of-concept way of working, whereby we build a new user experience – and more importantly, process – from the ground up, that will also allow us to be more responsive in developing and rolling out the Sony Android upgrades Xperia users want, more quickly.

If you fit the criteria — have the right device and are based in one of the included markets — you can head over to the Google Play Store to download the Concept for Android app from today. You can register through the app and read all the terms and conditions there. Successful applicants will be notified and selected over the next few weeks and chosen purely on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. In other words, if you want to be in for a shot at trying the new software, be sure to apply as soon as possible, 10,000 places could vanish pretty quickly.