Will Google Glass replace your smartphone?

 by Phil Hornshaw

Google’s Project Glass is an impressive little bit of technology.

It’s a major revolution in “wearable computing,” putting all kinds of functions that were formerly reserved for computers and smartphones in front of your face. The display can show you information about the world around you, the camera within the glasses can snap photos and shoot videos, and you can do it all with voice controls.

Google Glass sounds pretty amazing, and it looks even cooler if you’ve seen the videos on the Project Glass Google+ site. But with Glass launching for consumers in 2013, there’s one important question: Will it replace your smartphone?

The answer: no, probably not. At least, not yet, because as cool as Glass is, many of its features will still depend on integration with an Android device or an iPhone to function.

Start hoarding cash

For one thing, Google Glass is going to be expensive. The tech giant has said the glasses will be available to consumers for “less than $1,500,” but that still makes it sound as if the price is going to be close to $1,500. That’s a doozy for many consumers, especially when you can get a lot of Google Glass’s functions out of your smartphone , which usually costs $200 or less with a new cellular contract.

Your smartphone is the Internet connection

Another important point: While Google Glass can do cool things like shoot videos and snap photos, it can’t upload them to Facebook or Twitter like your smartphone can. More likely, you’ll use Google Glass in conjunction with your existing smartphone through Bluetooth technology and use that device’s 3G or 4G connection to send media to others.

That means you’re still going to want a smartphone, but the good news is, you’ll likely be able to get one for much cheaper than Google Glass, and your options are pretty boundless. Apple offers 1 percent cash back and free shipping on just about all its products, for example. Best Buy, Walmart and Target, all of which sell Android and Apple smartphones, also offer 2 percent cash back. You can also look to your cellular carrier: AT&T offers $100 cash back when you switch, and Sprint offers $30 cash back.

Google Glass might be the beginning of a bright new wearable computing future, but it’s an additional device, not a replacement one. Keep your smartphone handy for its many cool functions as you prepare your face for its new job of holding up Google’s augmented reality glasses.

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