Thread: Google perhaps sell tablets direct to customers this summer

This is not perfectly new as Google didtry once before to sell hardware directly to consumers, in the formof the Nexus One, but if the rumor is true, this is a n extremedifferent approach to selling to consumers for Google. The new wordis that Google will be opening an online store to sell Androidtablets directly to consumers this summer. There are two majordifferences here compared to the Nexus One sale


Tablets do not necessarily require acarrier contract. One of the biggest troubles on the Nexus One salewas that other than almost no marketing, the merely alternative forsale was an unlocked device for T-Mobile. Unluckily, Americans stillcan not wrap their heads around the benefits of an unlocked device,thus the higher initial price makes people shy away. Tablets do notwant carrier contracts, and people are already primed for a tablet,thus right away this idea has a better chance of success.

This may not be only a Nexus store. TheNexus One sale was meely that, the Nexus One and nothing else. If weare to believe the report from The Wall Street Journal, this newstore will market and sell Android tablets from every vendors. BothSamsung and Asus are referred like hardware partners, and the reportparticularly says that tablets may be "co-branded with Google'sname", which would create sense, but does not rule out thepossibility that Google may sell the Samsung Galaxy Tab right alongslope of the Asus Nexus tablet.


The idea surely creates sense, as ifpeople are merely beginning to warm up to the thought of Googleselling products. If nothing else, a Google Android Tablet Storecould be a good way to showcase the hardware available in theecosystem. And, it could be a good way to take the prices down as therumor as well says that Google might subsidize tablets to bring downcosts.