It’s not uncommon for companies in the highly competive tech world to open their own branded brick-and-mortar retail stores.
Apple has done it successfully, Microsoft is currently trying, and a new rumor suggests that Google is getting ready to do the same thing. Yes, according to a new report, Mountain View will open retail stores geared towards selling devices loaded with software such as Chrome and Android.
The sources for the rumor claim that the idea of a Mountain View-branded store came up when Google began looking for a way to sell its upcoming Project Glass. Unsuprisingly, Google concluded that most people would want to try the new technology before spending as much as $1,000 to purchase the system.
Of course, Google has been selling some electronic devices directly through its website for a while now, including Nexus phones, Android tablets, and Chromebooks. However, a retail presence in major cities would allow more potential customers to walk in and try out some of the equipment.
As previously discussed on TG Daily, Google already offers Chromebooks in a number of retail outlets such as Best Buy in the United States and via UK shopping chains such as Dixon’s. However, none of the existing retail outlets sell Nexus phones and tablets leaving Google without a strong retail presence for some of its products.
It’s unclear, but entirely conceivable that Google retail stores may potentially sell non-branded products that run its operating system, such as devices from companies like Samsung, HTC, Acer and Asus.
It should probably also be noted that Google does maintain a retail store on one of its campuses where it sells clothing, toys, and other items that appeal to fans of Android and other Google projects. This sort of merchandise would certainly be easy to add to additional Google retail stores in the future.
