As part of its promotional campaign for the new Chrome operating system, Google has quietly opened up its first retail store in London, called the “Chrome Zone”. The store is Google’s first venture in realspace retail, using the location to sell its Chromebook computer line.

The lack of hubbub is surprising, given that Google wants to actually, you know, sell things. Having a stall inside a PC World in Tottenham Court Road doesn’t seem remarkably auspicious.

More than anything else, this seems like a testing ground for the Chrome operating system; said head of consumer marketing at Google UK, Arvind Desikan

We found anecdotally that when people tried the device and played with it, that made a huge difference to their understanding of what the Chromebook is all about. People will be able to go in and have a play with the devices. We want to see whether people understand what this device is all about and monitor their reaction when they try it out.

They’ll be opening up another location in Essex in a couple of weeks.

In a nice nod to the Apple Store Geniuses – Apple being their primary competition at this point – they’re staffing the store with  “Chrome specialists” who will be available to answer any customer inquiries.

Such inquiries might include why they are opening two tiny stalls in London and Essex.

[Source: TIL]