Google has bought out Nest Labs, the company responsible for creating connected home devices like smart thermostats.
The Nest Labs acquisition suggests Google is definitely looking to make an entry in the home automation market, especially since Google spent a whopping $3.2 billion in cash on the company.
Luckily for Nest, the company will continue to operate under CEO Tony Fadell and exist under the Nest brand identity.
The sale is expected to be finalised within the next few months.
“Nest’s founders, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, have built a tremendous team that we are excited to welcome into the Google family,” said Larry Page, Google CEO. “They’re already delivering amazing products you can buy right now – thermostats that save energy and smoke/CO alarms that can help keep your family safe. We are excited to bring great experiences to more homes in more countries and fulfil their dreams.”
Nest has already launched Nest Protect, a smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and the smart Nest Thermostat
“We’re thrilled to join Google. With their support, Nest will be even better placed to build simple, thoughtful devices that make life easier at home, and that have a positive impact on the world”, said Fadell.
Reports suggest that Google has been working on its own internet-connect smart thermostat system, with screenshots from the EnergySense app even emerging online.
However, it seems likely that Google will use Nest to push its own connected home ideas.
“Nest’s product line obviously caught the attention of Google and I’m betting that there’s a lot of cool stuff we could do together, but nothing to share today,” added Matt Rogers, Nest founder and VP of Engineering on the Nest blog.
Next read, smart thermostats in the UK: Will Nest and its rivals take control in 2014?
