Google buy smoke detectors and thermostats company for 20 billion - Aftenposten

company Nest Labs Inc specializes in creating smart thermostats and smart smoke detectors. Smart in the sense that they are connected to the internet and can be controlled via the web.

Google who in 2012 bought Motorola for $ 12.5 billion, buy now Nest for $ 3.2 billion. This equates to almost 20 billion. According to news agency Reuters is vice-purchase the second largest acquisition Google has done.

company which began by making a search engine, which remains almost the entire world uses, has expanded to also operate with unmanned vehicles and robots, among other things. And now I drive with smart thermostats and smoke detectors.

Started by «Ipod godfather”

acquisition is seen as an investment in the “Internet of things”. It is quite simply that more and more of the common objects are connected to and controlled by the network.

Nest, with about 300 employees, was founded by two ex-Apple employee Matt Rogers and Tony Fadell. The latter is known as the man behind the iPod portable music player, and is known as the “Ipod godfather.”

Analyst Shyam Patil told Reuters that although Nest Labs until now has focused on thermostats and smoke detectors, it is not inconceivable to imagine that Google will extend this technology to other technical equipment.

– Automation in the home is one of the areas where the greatest opportunities when talking about the internet is everywhere and connected to everything. This acquisition strengthens Google’s strategy in this area, he said.

Since Nest, both managers and other employees with Apple background, many expect them to be acquired by the company. But I march on them.

The only remaining until the final acquisition is that it is approved by the authorities, Reuters reported.

Will be used in ads?

According to the magazine Wired news has led to a lot of jokes online about Google’s growing business empire. One of them is that it will come up Google ads when you turn off the smoke alarm.

But the Wired article points out that it may be possible to integrate information from, for example, the thermostat as a basis for advertising information. When can I customize the ads that fit better when you are at home than when you are away for example.

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