Integrators are in a unique position to learn more about Nest’s relevance to the custom electronics channel. The maker of the Nest Thermostat, Nest Cam and Nest Protect smoke/CO detectors will be hosting a Webinar next week exclusively through CE Pro.
While there is a set presentation to go over the new Nest product line, the company will also address some of the questions that integrators want answered.
We can’t guarantee that Nest will get to all of them, but there’s no harm in asking, right?
Here’s what I would ask:
~ Why does Nest care about the integrator channel? Isn’t it all about DIY and the mass market?
~ Can third-party home automation ecosystems exploit Nest’s learning capabilities?
~ What are the benefits of using Nest products within a third-party automation ecosystem, rather than using the automation provider’s own products (thermostats, cameras, smokes and whatever comes next)? Are there added benefits of Nest in terms of feature sets that are not provided by integration-specific solutions?
~ Here’s one from “Jason,” commenting on CE Pro: “Why can’t they figure out how to connect the Nest Protect to an actual alarm system? Especially disappointing since it was a promised feature from the very beginning.”
~ Is there a way for integrators to benefit from the recurring revenue on Nest cameras and other fee-based services that Nest might offer in the future?
~ The early success of Amazon Echo tells us voice-control is a very compelling feature. How about some native speech recognition (and voice response) technology in the Nest ecosystem?
~ Is there anything in particular integrators should know about the Nest-led Thread, an effort to standardize the network layer for home automation devices?
Ask Your Own Questions about Nest
What does it hurt to ask some questions of your own? If nothing else, it shows Nest what’s on integrators’ minds. Submit your questions in the comments section below, and then stay tuned for the live Webinar.
Nest and the Custom Integrator: Products, Applications and Opportunities
Wed., July 29, 2015, 2:00pm EST
Presenter: Gene LaNois, GM, professional channel, Nest Labs
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JULIE JACOBSON
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