Google Glass on Sale Tomorrow – What’s Google’s Goal?

Tomorrow, 15 April, will see Google make Glass available to more people than ever before, but what does it expect to achieve?

Google Glass is clearly one of the tech giant’s flagship projects, having been tested over the past few months and widely touted as one of the top contenders to become the future of wearable technology. However, up to now a relatively small numbers of early adopters have been testing the device and offering feedback to its makers. Next week, that pool of testers will be expanded again.

On Tuesday, 15 April, Google plans to open up a limited number of new places on the Google Explorer Program so that members of the public in the US will be able to purchase the device, complete with a choice of shade and frame. Prescription and sunglasses frames will also apparently be available to purchase.

In a Google+ post yesterday announcing the sale, the company said that any US adult will be able to buy Glass for $1500+tax (£894) from the website. Numbers will be “limited” though it was not confirmed how many devices would be available.

For Google, it makes sense to gradually expand their base of testers to make sure the product is as good as it possibly can be before it eventually hits the mass market. A wide variety of different uses in locations across the country will make sure the company is aware of minor adjustments that it hopes will make the user experience much more enjoyable.

But for many potential customers, it seems the price is still a sticking point. A number of comments on the original Google+ post demonstrate that until the cost of purchasing Glass comes down the company will struggle to find buyers.

This isn’t a full consumer release – it’s more an opportunity for fans to buy their way into the testing programme. But Glass is expected to be permanently available on shelves later this year, according to The Verge, which first reported the sale.

Perhaps it’s part of a plan to get final pieces of feedback to put together the consumer version, or even a way to get rid of existing stock of older versions. But in either case, it represents the beginning of a very interesting time, both for Google and the wearable tech sector as a whole.