Google Glass Specs Released, But Is There A Channel Play?

The question now for many solution providers is whether there will be a business case for Google Glass.

First, here's a look at the specs. The eyewear, which gives users a head-mounted display with augmented reality, features a high-resolution display that will appear to Google Glass wearers like a 35-inch HD display from 8 feet away.

[Related: Google Project Glass: Technical Reality Or Pie In The Sky? ]

The eyewear comes with a 5-megapixel camera that supports 720p HD video recording, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and offers 16 GB of flash memory (with 12 GB of usable memory) that's also synced with Google cloud storage.

Google Glass will also have a battery that will support "one full day of typical use," according to Google, which notes that video recording and Google+ Hangouts are more battery intensive applications. The device will also come with a micro-USB port, plus a cable and battery charger.

The eyewear will be compatible with any Bluetooth-capable phone, according to Google, as the MyGlass companion software requires Android 4.0.3, codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich, or higher. MyGlass supports GPS tracking and SMS messaging for the eyewear.

Google has previously said that the device will be available for developers and select customers soon, with general consumer availability coming in the fourth quarter at a retail price of around $1,500.

As for business uses, solution providers say there is potential for Google Glass. David Hoff, chief technology officer at Cloud Sherpas, an Atlanta, Ga.-based Google Apps Premier Reseller, said he's unaware of any official channel strategy for Google Glass but believes there will be an enterprise market for the device.

"We see Glass as providing the ability to add context and sensor data that is part of larger enterprise applications," Hoff said. "We've had a few internal discussions already to have an app that captures a face and looks-up in our corporate directory to display their contact details. With the tools Google provides, solutions like this will become common."

Kevin Lalor, president of Bi101, a Google Apps reseller based in Livermore, Calif., believes there's potential for Google Glass to drive more business for the Google services and cloud offerings, likening the device to smaller version of the Google Chromebook.

"We're definitely interested in reselling the hardware," Lalor said. "I think wearable computing is the way of the future. We're moving away from big, ugly boxes to smaller, slimmer devices, so why not this?"

PUBLISHED APRIL 16, 2013