No need for a mad rush - but you'll probably need a good stroke of luck for this year's conference.
That is how Google has set up the chance for the public to attend the Google I/O on June 25-26 this year at Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, so unlike in the previous years where a mad rush is but natural. The company launched Google I/O on March 26.
Billy Rutledge, Director of Developer Relations in Google, detailed the registration process in a blog post.
"A month ago, we mentioned that this year's registration process would be different. You won't need to scramble the second registration opens, as we will not be implementing a first-come-first-served model this year," Billy Rutledge said.
"Instead, registration will remain open from April 8 - 10 and you can apply any time during this window. We'll randomly select applicants after the window closes on April 10, and send ticket purchase confirmation emails shortly thereafter," Billy added.
Age requirement for attendees must be at least 15 years old. Attendees who are 15, 16 and 17 years old won't need an adult for chaperone but must provide a signed parental consent form, whether in advance or during on-site check-in. The company will not also offer chaperone tickets to said young attendees. All selected and registered attendees will get the check-in instructions and other latest information before the conference date.
Ticket for general public costs $900, while cost for academics and students is $300 that strictly requires proper documentation. Costs don't matter for many of the attendees, since it has been known how Google gives out freebies in its conferences. In 2012, freebies given were Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7 and Nexus Q. Last year, attendees received a Chromebook Pixel.
These goodies, though, come with a purpose. It's a business strategy that gives developers the latest devices with the latest software installed and then these developers, in turn, write apps.
If you have been registered but can't attend for some reason, you can request a refund. Any refund requests, however, must be made before the conference. Otherwise, it will not be approved.
For people who can't come to the event, Google I/O can still be seen in two ways.
"Watch the livestream of the keynote and sessions from the comfort of your home or office. Or, attend an I/O Extended event in your area. More details on these programs will be available soon," the company blog post says.
The Moscone Center can only house about 6,000 people. In previous years, the convention center was jam-packed.
