I am not sure if Google's Chromebook leasing/renting/upgrade strategy will work or not (I think not) but one thing is for sure. They are making a bold move to generate a revenue stream completely different from their search based advertising (I have often called them a one trick pony because that seemed like all they could do). - Brian Sullivan

Not sure if they're really looking to make revenue from the actual renting and such of the Chromebooks any more than they plan to make money renting movies on Android. It's just another way to own more eyeballs. Not really much different than what they've done with Android, except they had to create their own distribution system. With Android, carriers were already "renting" cell phones. - Rahsheen

By practically giving away Chomebooks (they're paying for themselves at 28/m) but owning more eyeballs will equal HUGE revenue from Google's main source, which is internet ad space, double click - sofarsoShawn

I guess at this point the program is US only because of the Verizon connection? - Brian Sullivan

don't think it has anything to do with Verizon, 190 other countries miss out as well. Most new Google services are US only, movie rentals, music cloud, google voice etc dunno exactly why? - sofarsoShawn