Nexus 7 official dock to begin shipping later this week

On November 30, we reported that an official ASUS Nexus 7 docking station has appeared on the ASUS Japan website with a handful of information and not much else. Originally it was rumored that the dock would be available in early December, eventually with December 30 being marked as the shipping date. That day came and went without event, but now retailers are saying that the device will begin shipping later this week.

The dock is now listed on the ASUS Japan website along with a price – 3,480 yen – in addition to a note reading "I am currently out of stock." Over at B&H, however, users can place a pre-order for $39.99, with the retailer noting that the expected availability will be on January 10. The device isn't currently in stock, however, and so the expected availability date isn't set in stone.

Previous reports have said that the dock would begin shipping on January 10, however, so the numbers are matching up thus far. The dock is the first official one available for the Nexus 7, and while it isn't anything extraordinary, it offers all the things one could want in a tablet dock.

The Nexus 7 dock features a micro USB port and a standard 3.5mm stereo output port. It's not very big at 8.6L x 2.6W x 1.2H-inches, and weighs in at just under 10 ounces (280 grams). It requires the tablet to be running Android Jelly Bean 4.2. According the Japanese Asus website, users have to keep the dock plugged in when using audio output. If you have a Nexus 7 and are in the market for a dock, you can pre-order the device online and expect to receive it in the relatively near future.

[via Android Community]