Google has announced a partnership and US$450 million investment into security firm ADT, giving it a 6.6% share of the company. The plan is to let ADT's technicians sell and install Google Nest products, which could help attract customers who are intimidated by setting up smart home products on their own. At the same time, ADT gets to use Google's smart home and AI technology expertise to develop its home security product range. Google wants to become the "cornerstone of ADT's smart home offering."
"Over time, Nest's devices, powered by Google's machine learning capabilities, will enhance ADT's security monitoring," Google said. "The goal is to give customers fewer false alarms, more ways to receive alarm events and better detection of potential incidents inside and around the home." It isn't clear, though, if this partnership will extend beyond the US.
Source: Engadget