In recent years, Google has done great in developing hardware, including Pixel phones, Nest devices, and smart speakers. However, the company wants to expand its focus on hardware by building a dedicated campus for centralized operations. As per the report, Google’s new tech campus is called “Midpoint,” and the company is doing paperwork to start working on its new campus as soon as possible. However, this is not a one-night decision by Google. Documentation revealed that the company began to buy lands in 2018, and they’ve spent $389 million until today. The new hardware campus is placed between Google’s Mountain View headquarter and its new mega campus in San Jose. There are five office buildings connected via a pedestrian bridge and also three industrial buildings. Google reportedly plans to work on Nest products on these buildings. Plus the hardware operations centers, there is also a tech campus for the public.
Google’s focus on hardware promises better devices
According to the CNBC report, 80% of the Google hardware campus is dedicated to manufacturing, storage, distribution, and other purposes. The remaining 20% is for office space. The plans revealed that “new interior space will be used for device warehouse, distribution and supporting office functions,” The area can host 169 people. Also, 794 parking spaces are available and there is enough space for 20 large trucks or semi-trucks. The EV owners can use charging stations on the campus. The so-called Midpoint tech campus can host 3,500 employees, and it will be a modern campus. As per Vini Bhargava, a project executive with Google’s real estate and workplace services, “The goal of the proposed project is to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity between the buildings and the surrounding community,” The importance of building a new campus for Google is the company is planning to return employees to offices in post-pandemic. Dates back to May, Google also promised to build a campus in California for working on quantum computers.
Google’s wants to stay competitive in hardware market
The competition in the hardware market is now more fierce than ever. Chinese companies are voraciously conquering market share, and others are investing piles of money on developing hardware. Google knows it needs to increase its investment if it does not want its hardware market share threatened. Google has recently announced that it intends to stop using Qualcomm chips. This means that the company plans to use its chips in future Pixel phones.
