Why is Google Buying a Smoke-Detector Company for $3.2B? BC They Want To Be In Your Homes

Why is Google Buying a Smoke-Detector Company for $3.2B? Nest Labs 

Theory: Because they want to be in your home. 

Google: AndroidHeadlines

Nest's Products:

• Track home temperature
• Track presence of smoke
• Track when you wake up
• Track when you leave
• Track when you return home
• Can be controlled via smartphone. (Bingo. Smart Home?)

Essentially, their technology (hardware + software) uses tracking sensors and algorithms to gather data on your behavior and then program the tech accordingly.

NYT: "Internet companies are vying to be the gateway through which people live every aspect of their lives — whether searching, socializing, reading, shopping, exercising or sleeping. Their businesses, particularly advertising, are built on watching the way people behave online.

For Google, gaining visibility into people’s habits beyond computers and phones — whether watching television using Chromecast, taking a walk wearing Google Glass or managing their homes using Nest products — will provide a fuller picture of users.

“Google likes to know everything they can about us, so I suppose devices that are monitoring what’s going on in our homes is another excellent way for them to gather that information,” said Danny Sullivan, a longtime Google analyst...  

“The more they’re tied into our everyday life, the more they feel they can deliver products we’ll like and ads.”

Mr. Fadell said in an interview that he was aware of concerns among customers about Google having so much data about people, and that Google agreed that Nest’s privacy policy — which says that Nest will use customer information only to improve its products and services — would remain unchanged.