Google此舉意味著該公司認(rèn)真考慮進(jìn)軍連網(wǎng)家電市場，但更重要的是在范圍更大的物聯(lián)網(wǎng)(Internet of Things，IoT)市場占據(jù)一席之地。透過智能手機(jī)或平板遙控家電的概念，對許多消費性電子業(yè)者、甚至消費者來說，都已不是新鮮事。但Nest聲名大噪的原因在于其簡潔的特性……
Google 在美國時間1月13日宣布以32億美元收購家用智能型溫度控制/煙霧偵測裝置供貨商 Nest Lab，并藉此向家庭應(yīng)用領(lǐng)域伸出觸角；這似乎預(yù)告了Nest Lab共同創(chuàng)辦人 Tony Fadell 的長期愿景──“感知家庭(conscious home)”技術(shù)領(lǐng)域?qū)Ⅻc燃戰(zhàn)火。
Nest在 2012年的國際消費性電子展(CES) 前的一場發(fā)表會上大出風(fēng)頭，曾參與開發(fā) Apple iPod 的共同創(chuàng)辦人Fadell、簡潔時尚的溫度控制裝置設(shè)計，以及結(jié)合iPhone應(yīng)用程序的創(chuàng)新功能，讓這家公司在當(dāng)時吸引了所有人的目光。兩年后，場景一 樣是CES，Nest成為被Google高價收購的對象。
Google此舉意味著該公司認(rèn)真考慮進(jìn)軍連網(wǎng)家電市場，但更重要的是在范圍更大的物聯(lián)網(wǎng)(Internet of Things，IoT)市場占據(jù)一席之地。根據(jù)雙方協(xié)議，Google收購的內(nèi)容包括Nest產(chǎn)品與設(shè)計團(tuán)隊，而共同創(chuàng)辦人Fadell與Matt Rogers也在其中。根據(jù)Google的聲明，Nest將：“繼續(xù)在Fadell的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下運作，并保有自己獨特的品牌識別。”
透過智能手機(jī)或平板遙控家電的概念，對許多消費性電子業(yè)者、甚至消費者來說，都已不是新鮮事。但Nest聲名大噪的原因在于其簡潔的特性(特別是在消 費者設(shè)定時)，還有該裝置的自我學(xué)習(xí)(self-learning)功能，以及這家公司在軟件可升級性方面的完美執(zhí)行力。
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Google Acquires Nest Labs for $3.2 Billion
Junko Yoshida
The battle of "a conscious home" begins
SAN FRANCISCO — Let the battle begin over the so-called “conscious home” -- a long-term vision held by Nest Lab’s co-founder Tony Fadell. Now that Google is inserting itself into that "home" picture, through the acquisition of Nest, a smart thermostat and smoke alarm developer, expect the market segment to heat up.
It was at CES Unveiled -- a pre-show gadget-fest at the International CES -- in 2012, where Nest stole the show.
The pedigree of Fadell (who developed Apple’s music player iPod) as the startup’s co-founder, the sleek thermostat design, and the fact that the lowly thermostat came with an iPhone app from day one on the product rollout fascinated everyone.
Two years later, right after the 2014 CES, Google snatched up Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in cash on Monday (Jan. 13).
Google’s move suggests that the search engine giant is serious about becoming a player in the “connected” home appliance market, but more to the point, occupying the space of the much larger Internet of Things market.
Under the deal, Google will acquire both Nest’s products and a design team that includes its co-founders, Fadell and Matt Rogers.
According to Google’s announcement, Nest will “continue to operate under the leadership of Fadell and with its own distinct brand identity.”
The idea of remotely controlling home appliances via smartphones or tables is no longer foreign to many CE vendors, and perhaps, even to consumers.
But Nest’s claim to fame is its simplicity (when consumers are setting it up), the self-learning capability of the device and the company’s flawless execution in making appliances software upgradable.
How to bring connectivity, intelligence, and ease-of-use to home appliances has been the name of the game among CE vendors for years.
At CES last week, LG showed off next-generation smart home appliances that do “HomeChat.” By tapping a Japanese messaging service called Line, LG now allows users to chat with LG’s new appliances via text messaging (in natural language).
For example, texting “I’m going on vacation” in HomeChat will result in the automatic response, “Should I convert to vacation mode?” When you reply "yes," the refrigerator will go into power-saving mode, the family’s robotic vacuum cleaner will sweep the floor at 9:00 a.m. every day, and the washing machine will run a wash cycle on the day before your return.
As the idea of “connected” smart appliances spreads, the next logical step is to improve the way those devices are connected to the cloud, figure out what data will be collected and uploaded to the Internet and what useful analytics will be fed back into those smart appliances.
In his blog at Nest, Fadell wrote: “When Matt and I started Nest in 2010, we were determined to change our homes and the world around us.”
From the beginning, Fadell said, “our vision was to create a conscious home. A home that is more thoughtful, intuitive -- and nice to look at. No one had cracked the code and we were confident we could do it with the right product, the right team, and focus.”
According to Google, the transaction of the deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US. It is expected to close in the next few months.
