New reports indicate Google is in the process of closing down the Glass Basecamps that it setup to help new customers obtaining Google Glass. When Glass was first introduced, buyers were strongly urged to to pick up their new devices via one of the Basecamps. Those existed only in San Francisco, Los Angles and New York, meaning most people were in for a road trip. However, the closure of the Basecamps is not necessarily bad news for Glass fans.
Earlier this year Google finally started to offer Glass through the Google Play Store. That transition included shutting down the separate site Google had been using for online orders and prior to that the invite request system. Google has also been adding new options for frames, shades and other accessories in recent months. All indications are that Google is moving Glass to a position of being a “normal” wearable device for purchase through Google Play.
That transition to more of a mainline status suggests the existence of the Basecamp stores was becoming even more of an anomaly than they were before. The stores brought a lot of extra costs with them for a product that is certainly a niche item, which probably further strengthened the case for closing the Basecamps.
While the closure of the locations may ultimately be a sign of positive developments for Glass, it will still be a sad event for people who have the devices or were checking them out. The stores provided a unique person-to-person interaction with Google employees. Google also took the time to create and hold events for Glass Explorers to participate in as part of an effort to grow and strengthen the community, so that will be going away.
source: Phandroid
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