Since Google started giving away Cr-48(Chrome OS) machines to various users across the United States for closed beta testing, Chrome OS team constantly remained hard at work, resolving the issues faced/reported by Cr-48 test program participants and kept analyzing all the feedback they could get from the users working on Chrome OS test units.

Then came the rumor that Google might possibly rent out Chrome OS machines to users for just $20/month. We weren’t that convinced about the rumor that time but it astoundingly came out to be true after yesterday’s announcement, although partially only.

‘Partially’ because Chrome OS netbooks are going to be available on rent, only for Educational and Enterprise customers; not for those individuals who want to rent it just for themselves. Individual buyers will have to ‘buy’ it as no rent option is available to them.

Also, other renting advantages such as full admin console for software administration & management, direct support from Google for any issues, warranty and replacement facility for the hardware aren’t covered by Google. Individual buyers will have to look up to hardware manufacturers for fulfillment of any such requirments.

Educators can get Chromebooks on rent for just $20/mo per user while businesses can order Chromebooks on rent for $28/mo per user. Consumers can ‘buy’ Chromebook for a starting price of $349 (WiFi only cheapest available Chromebook right now).

Acer and Samsung are among the first two OEMs to start selling Chromebooks starting June 15, 2011. Several other OEMs are expected to start selling Chromebooks by end of this year.

But there’s one important thing to note here. Renting Chromebook will bind you under a 3 year contract and the only way to get rid of that contract, in case you wish to do so, is by paying rest of the contract money. This sounds a little creepy but that’s the way it is, at least for now.

The minimum quantity of Chromebooks to be ordered for renting (for Educational/business use) has been set as 10 units. So, even if you run a small business and wish to get Chromebooks on rent, make sure your small business isn’t too small.