Google Glass promoted from Google[x], Explorer program shutting down

The Google Glass team announced today that they are moving on from Google[x] labs and will become their own business unit. The new Google Glass unit will be assigned to Tony Fadell who currently heads up Nest Labs for Google. The Glass team itself will continue to be run by Ivy Ross who will now report to Fadell. As part of the new direction for Glass, Google will stop selling the Explorer Edition of Google Glass after January 19th, although some units will continue to be made available to developers and companies working on specific applications.

Google strongly hinted that they already have plans for the next version of Google Glass and although no timelines were provided, it is anticipated the next update will be released in 2015.

Some sources indicate this change in direction for Google Glass also signals a change in how Google develops products for the market. Glass was probably the most ambitious “beta” program the company engaged in, thanks in no part to the $1,500 cost of Glass for anyone who wanted to volunteer to be a beta tester. This move could signal a transition to a more traditional path to product development, similar to what Nest and Apple have used, where products are developed in secret an only released when considered “fully finished.”

In the Glass announcement today, Google makes specific mention of their Glass at Work initiative. Many industry watchers see the future of Glass as being brightest in workplace applications. However, Ms. Ross comes from a consumer-oriented background and Google’s Nest is also a strong consumer-oriented platform. Despite the slow sales after the program was opened up earlier this year and persistent criticism over privacy issues and technical shortcomings, Google does seem to see potential for the wearable device in both the business and consumer markets.

source: +Google Glass

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