The Google Glass is finally arriving in the U.S. market for $1500, but only for a day.
Google sure knows how to spur demand in the consumer market. The Internet giant is offering a one-time chance for anyone, literally anyone in the U.S., to grab Google's high-tech eyewear by paying $1500 plus tax on April 15. For the first time, the Google Glass will be available in the commercial market without the need for an invitation from Google to join the Explorer program. This is the biggest push yet to get the Glass in as many hands (heads?) as possible. The news, which was supposedly scheduled to be out next week, was confirmed in a Google+ post from Google Glass official account, Thursday.
So for those who have been wanting the Glass desperately, here is your one good chance. Google initially started taking pre-orders for its eyewear two years ago at Google I/O 2012, which shipped out the Glass to the first batch of 2,000 Explorers. Later that year, the web giant started offering consumers a chance to buy the pricey eyewear by letting Google know what they would do with Glass via #ifihadglass, which got 8,000 people with their own pair. Other smaller promotions, like friend referrals and official waitlist to become an Explorer, were started last year, but the latest promotion is probably the last major effort to give its developers a heads up before the official launch later this year.
"Our Explorers are moms, bakers, surgeons, rockers, and each new Explorer has brought a new perspective that is making Glass better," Google said in a g+ post, Thursday. "But every day we get requests from those of you who haven't found a way into the program yet, and we want your feedback too. So in typical Explorer Program fashion, we're trying something new."
Under the new promotion, interested buyers for the Glass need to mark their calendars to make a purchase, or sign up on Google's official page to get an alert on the big day. The offer starts April 15, 9 a.m. EDT. Google Glass buyers will also get a free sunglass shade or prescription lens frame.
