Both Apple and Microsoft have brick and mortar stores where potential customers can try out products before purchasing them, which is an important part in the buying process for many people. Google will soon follow suit with its own retail stores, claims 9to5Google, in an effort to actually get its Nexus and Chrome devices into consumers' hands. The site says that it's been told by "an extremely reliable source" that Google is currently working to introduce its own standalone stores in the U.S., with the search giant hoping to have the first locations open in major metropolitan areas in time for the holidays.

While Google currently sells Nexus devices through its online Play Store and its Chromebooks in select Best Buy and PCWorld/Dixon's locations, a standalone, physical Google Store would give customers a centralized place to actually try out Google's hardware. This is reportedly what drove Google to make the decision to open up its own stores, as 9to5Google says that company executives felt many consumers would have a hard time pulling the trigger on Google Glass and its potentially high price tag (prototype units cost $1500) without actually getting to try out the device first.

While these Google Stores are still very much a rumor at this point, they would make a lot of sense for Google. Not only could they help the company to move more devices by giving customers some hands-on time with Google's products, but they could also interact with and get help from actual Google Store employees if needed. What do you all make of this report? Do you think that Google should open up its own retail stores?

Via 9to5Google