Google to Launch Line of Consumer Devices?

Google might be preparing to create and launch a whole family of consumer devices that would compete against Apple products. 


Depending on your perspective, that is either a dangerous shift of strategy or only the logical extension of Google's increased profile in the devices business. 



Google's Android operating system is a major global presence in smart phones and tablets, and Google also has built and sold a "hero" Nexus device to illustrate what it believes can be done in the smart phone area using Android. Google has purchased Motorola Mobility, and so now is a supplier of mobile devices. 


Google also provides support for a couple of firms building Chromebooks, meaning Google already is partly in the PC business. And Google already has cooperated with a few manufacturers on Google TVs.


Google recently announced it was going to build and market an in-home music entertainment system, as well. 


So a formal "hardware strategy" wouldn't be much of a stretch. 


Google and Apple seem destined to compete on many fronts, a fact that has been clear for a few years, dating back to the days when Eric Schmidt, then Google CEO, was a member of Apple's board of directors. Schmidt resigned in 2009.