Google is coming to your home ……Google has just acquired NEST, the maker of those super-sleek thermostats and smoke detectors, for $3,2billion. This isn’t Google’s first attempt at helping homeowners understand their energy use. A few years ago Google had an energy monitoring tool called “PowerMeter” designed to help consumers visualize their hourly energy usage, but it was discontinued in 2011. The designers of NEST products worked directly for Steve Jobs at APPLE, hence their products somewhat similarity to the functionality of an I-pod. Anyone who can bring ease of use to home automation the way Apple introduced this to the tech industry is bound to do well, and I find the NEST products simply outstanding, although there have been rumblings about the reliability of the Nest 2 thermostat. It will be interesting to see how Google capitalizes on these amazing devices. NEST products are only sold through APPLE distribution channels now as they interface with APPLE products: we will have to wait to see if this arrangement continues knowing Google’s affiliation with Samsung.
Did GOOGLE buy NEST, or did they buy the NEST design team?