Glass will not hit markets before 2014, confirms Google

There were rumours that Google could be planning an early shipping date for the company’s Glass wearable computer later this year. Computer World now says that Google has gone on the record to say that the wearable device will not be shipped before 2014.

According to the report, sources close to the company had earlier said that Glass would be available in 2013. Contradicting that, a Google spokesman has now said, "We're always adjusting and readjusting timelines. The most important thing that we do is focus on building a great product for users whenever that might be launched."

The spokesman went on to clarify that the earlier information given by some company employees at the May conference contradicted statements made by Google headhoncho Eric Schmidt. In April, Schmidt had told a BBC reporter that Glass was about a year away from hitting markets. At the time, the Google chairman had said, "It's fair to say there will be thousands in use over the months and there will be changes made based on feedback. But it's fair to say it's a year-ish away."

Google Glass will not be shipped before 2014

Analysts, however, feel that this decision may come from wanting to avoid problems if the shipping date of the device does extend beyond 2013. Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told the source, "I'm pleased Google has the discipline to hold Glass back until they think it's perfect. Typically, Google will throw products out before they're ready, like the Nexus Q. Glass is a new category of devices and it's important that it works well. [If not], it could stunt the growth of these kinds of devices."

Another analyst with ZR Research, Zeus Kerravala said, "That's interesting, but not surprising. Glass has so much hype around it that it's more important Google get it right than get it out early or on time." Another point of view for this situation comes from Dan Olds, an analyst at Gabriel Consulting Group. According to him, it is possible that Google is focusing more on marketing the Google Glass as opposed to thinking about its technology.

Rationalising this, Olds said, "Google hasn't said anything about the slip or why it's happening. If I were to speculate, I'd say it's more marketing related than technical. Just the specter of Google Glass has caused a lot of buzz in both the tech world and with consumers. Businesses have banned them preemptively and there have been lots of discussions about how this device impacts privacy.”

The discussion around Google Glass has intensified in the last few days following several privacy and government bodies raising a lot of security and privacy concerns about the wearable device. The main point is the fact that Glass can be used to secretly take photos and videos of people. In response, Google has promised not to include facial recognition technology into the device till strong privacy settings are put in place. Certain businesses like Caesars Palace and Seattle’s 5 Points Cafe and Bar have already placed bans against the use of the wearable device on their premises.

These controversies are not stopping the company from steadily distributing the device to early adopters, developers and critics through its Explorer programme, though. Thus, it looks like the company is planning on sticking to its schedule for the Google Glass. So far, developers who want to get their hands on the device will have to shell out $1500 (Rs 95,070, approx), although there is no word on what the offical price of the device will actually be.

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