Google LLC said today that developers and businesses can now buy its Glass Enterprise Edition 2 headset directly from its partners.

Up to now, the only for businesses to get their hands on a pair of Google’s tech specs was to work with its partners to build a customized version of the device, which retails at $999.

Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2 is the successor of the original consumer-oriented Google Glass device that was ultimately shelved in 2015 after several years of testing. Although it never made the grade as a consumer product, Google relaunched it specifically as an enterprise workplace tool for use in industries such as construction and healthcare, where professionals can actually make use of a simple heads-up display while on the job.

The second edition of Glass was launched in May 2019 with a better processor and camera, plus a USB-C port and other minor updates to its design.

“Since Glass Enterprise Edition 2 launched last May, we’ve seen strong demand from developers and businesses who are interested in building new, helpful enterprise solutions for Glass,” Glass project lead Jay Kothari wrote in a blog post.

Glass runs the Android operating system, which means businesses are able to integrate the application programming interfaces for services they already use. In addition, Google has also shared some new open-source applications and code samples for developers to help them build their own apps for the device.

Google’s continued bet on Glass is probably a straightforward business decision. According to International Data Corp., spending in the emerging augmented reality and virtual reality market will reach $18.8 billion this year, up from $10.5 billion last year.

Photo: Google