Google Salves Nexus 7 Pre-Order Delays With Speedy Shipping Upgrade

Google has begun offering Nexus 7 pre-order customers complimentary upgrades to overnight shipping, reacting to complaints of delayed deliveries and citing "incredible demand" for the Jelly Bean tablet. In an email to those who pre-ordered the Nexus 7 tablet after its launch at Google IO last month, Google confirmed its shipping schedule for the 8GB and 16GB versions.

"We wanted to send you an update on your Nexus 7 pre-order. We've had incredible demand for the new tablet and are shipping them as quickly as possible. All Nexus 7 8GB orders will ship by July 20, and Nexus 7 16GB orders will ship by next week. We've upgraded your shipping to overnight so your your order will arrive sooner" Google email to UK Nexus 7 pre-order customers

According to Google's new help page on the topic, in the US all "standalone" 8GB Nexus 7 orders have been shipped – that is, orders that do not include a case, charger or Nexus Q - and, by the end of the day on July 19, all standalone 16GB Nexus 7 orders placed through July 11 will have been shipped (and upgraded to overnight shipping). The remaining orders of the 16GB Nexus 7 will be shipped by the end of next week, again with automatic – and free – overnight shipping upgrades.

In the UK, all Nexus 7 8GB orders will ship by July 20 (BST) and all 16GB Nexus 7 orders placed through June 30 will ship by the same day. Remaining Nexus 7 16GB orders will ship next week.

In Canada, all 8GB model orders have been shipped, but the 16GB orders will be shipped within 1-2 weeks. Finally, in Australia orders for both models will be fulfilled by the end of the day on July 19, and are expected to arrive in 3-5 days.

The news is being met with mixed reactions. While overnight shipping is a welcome addition, the fact that Nexus 7 buyers who opted for third-party retailers have already been receiving their tablets as of several days ago, those who opted for official Google Play pre-orders are understandably frustrated.

More on the Nexus 7 in our full review.