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Google gets a deeper plunge into the Internet of Things (IoT) business with its Nest unit rolling out an overhauled version of its home-security product line.
Nest engineers announced that the company now offers an updated version of its home-security camera ($199 per piece) which comes with a paid video management service ($10 per month) and a second-generation smoke alarm system dubbed Protect.
The updates were disclosed by Maxime Veron, the head of Google’s Nest unit. According to Veron, Protect’s app now has extra features and a revamped thermostat.
According to Tony Fadell from Nest, the tech company sold “millions” of devices, but he declined to provide a figure. He only said that the growth of the company is assured, while a deal with insurance companies would contribute to a further rise in revenue.
“Everyone’s talking about connected-this and IoT-that. We’ve been doing it longer than anyone else, and we want to show what it takes to really do it properly,”
added Mr. Fadell, who is also co-founder of Nest Labs.
But Google is not the only player on the IoT market. The web company currently competes with other tech giants such as Apple and Samsung. All these companies have been running campaigns to convince customers that it is a thing of the future to have a smart home.
Nest Labs was acquired by Google in February 2014 for $3.2 billion. Months later, the company purchased Dropcam for $550 million.
Dropcam is a security startup which helps users to install cameras in their homes to maximize control while they are not around. Dropcam’s cameras allow users to have a 360° view on their home, provide a record function and night vision.
Google’ Nest camera relies on Dropcam technology, but it is smaller and comes with higher resolution and enhanced night vision. It also has a video storage paid service which starts from $10 per month and offers video recordings, an archive, and a smart method to instruct the camera to focus on a particular area.
Nest’s smoke alarm was also overhauled. It is smaller and has added features that prevent false alarms from occurring. Nest has closed deals with two insurance companies o promote its product. You can get the product for free or with a discount if you acquire it through Liberty Mutual Insurance or American Family Insurance.
Protect’s smart thermostat uses Apple-like technology (Fadell worked for the company before joining Nest in 2011) that combines an eye-pleasing hardware look with intelligent software that can store, analyze and draw conclusions on the user’s heating history. Based on that data, it can automatically adjust the temperature of the environment.
Image Source: Telegraph.uk
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