14 DAY TRIAL // Google dug deep in its pockets and took out $3.2 billion (€2.34 billion) in cash for its latest acquisition – home automation startup Nest.
Nest will continue as it is, the company said. There will be no rebranding or any changes to its day-to-day operations, Nest said. Whether that will be true on the long run remains to be seen, given Google’s track record.
The smart device will continue to support iOS devices, as well as Android and modern web browsers which allow users to connect to Nest and control the temperatures at home from wherever they are.
Nest products will continue to be available to shoppers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, a blog post reads.
“Google has the business resources, global scale and platform reach to accelerate Nest growth across hardware, software and services for the home globally. And our company visions are well aligned – we both believe in letting technology do the hard work behind the scenes so people can get on with the things that matter in life. Google is committed to helping Nest make a difference and together, we can help save more energy and keep people safe in their homes,” Tony Fadell, Nest founder, told Gizmodo.
The acquisition isn’t really that surprising since Google has already been involved in Nest’s operations for the past three years.
The news was originally shared by Google’s Senior VP Sundar Pichai who tweeted about the acquisition and linked to Google’s official press release. According to the official announcement, the $3.2 billion (€2.34 billion) will be paid in cash.
“Nest’s founders, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, have built a tremendous team that we are excited to welcome into the Google family. 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 fulfill their dreams!” Larry Page said.
At the same time, Fadell expressed his excitement about joining 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.”