Google discontinues Explorer program and production of Glass glasses – update

Google is suspending its Explorer program for Google Glass and stopping production of its smart glasses, the BBC has reported. The internet giant does emphasize that it continues to work on ‘smart’ glasses for the consumer market.

It will no longer be possible to order Google Glass via the Explorer program from next week, the BBC writes. The Explorer program was set up to allow software developers to test an early version of the smart glasses. The first versions were sold in 2013 for 1500 dollars, or 1290 euros. The glasses will also no longer be produced. In addition to the cessation of the Explorer program, the Glass project will also be detached from the Google X division. The development team will now come under Nest.

According to Google, although it has been decided to cancel the current program, the company says it will continue to work on smart glasses for the consumer market. Google will not say when it should be ready for the market. The current Google Glass is said to have provided the internet giant with valuable information in order to develop a better product.

Google Glass was announced with a lot of drumming by Google in 2013. However, the development of the smart glasses and the necessary software was slow. Many questions were also raised about matters such as privacy and security.

Update, Friday, 07.45: Google itself speaks of the program entering a new phase. According to Google, the project will now have its own team that will take the glasses further ‘from concept to reality’. The team will be led by Nest CEO Tony Fadell. Fadell was previously senior vice president of Apple’s iPod division.