Google’s Nest labs on Tuesday announced that it has opened doors for third-party developers to create apps that will interact with the company’s “smart” home products, ahead of the Google I/O event.
The newly rolled out Nest Developer Program, initially introduced in September last year, will let other smart home product makers and app developers to connect with the Nest thermostat.
“What we’re doing is making it possible for your Nest devices to securely interact with the things you already use every day,” said Matt Rogers, Nest’s founder and head of engineering.
“Things like lights, appliances, fitness bands and even cars. Because when we make connections between these different parts of your life, we can create personalized experiences that do even more to keep you comfortable and safe. And help you save energy around the house. Automatically.”
According to the Nest, more than 5,000 developers have already expressed their interest in developing apps for its products.
Nest said that it has partnered with companies including washer-dryer maker Whirlpool Corp, automatic garage door opener company Chamberlain and automaker Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz for instance connecting washing machines, cars and garage doors with Nest, users will be able to control the temperature and energy use in their homes.
Google, which acquired Nest for $3.2 billion, has also partnered with Nest, allowing its personal digital assistant, Google Now, to set the temperature on a Nest thermostat automatically in the situation of detecting arrival of the user at home.
Rogers stated that the company will share only limited data of the user with Google and other partners.
“We’re clear our data can only be used for what a developer will use it for,” Rogers said. “We don’t want anyone to make the rob-my-house app.”
Nest also announced last week that it’s buying home-video security company Dropcam Inc. for $555 million.
