The first Google Glass models are shipping to those lucky few “Google Explorers”, folks given the opportunity to purchase the $1500 device early. The Explorers get Glass before anyone else and in turn they provide real life beta testing for the wearable tech. One Explorer, Ed (last name kept anonymous) from Philadelphia listed his on eBay where it got as high as $95,300 before he realized Google’s terms of service forbade the selling or trading of his cyborg gear.
“You may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person. If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google’s authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty.”
Ed halted the auction after finding out the winning bidder would be paying 100 grand for a brick in the shape of glasses. His attitude is pretty upbeat about the whole thing. “I didn’t want to jeopardize my getting a pair of Glass,” says Ed. “So, I voluntarily removed the auction and I’m still excited to get the Glass even if I cannot sell it.”
Still, Ed raises a question that is coming up more often as companies increasingly place limits on their hardware and software. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense, if I’m paying $1,500 for it, it’s my property. Why can’t I resell it?”
It’s important to note that Google hasn’t said they’ll have these kind of restrictions on selling or loaning Glass after its public release. This Explorer program is all about working out the bugs in the device before it ships. If you’re one of the elite few with Glass in your hand, it’s probably wise to hold onto it!
[Via: Forbes]