Google considers a home security move through Nest, eyes Dropcam

After focusing on a smart home thermostat and smoke detector, Google’s Nest could be looking at a smart home security offering next.

Along those lines, Google has also considered acquiring Dropcam, maker of connected home security cameras, The Information reports.

It’s unclear if the two companies are still in negotiations, but Dropcam could be a good fit for Google. Founded in 2009, Dropcam’s connected cameras have become popular thanks to their video quality and easy setup. They can also store 7 or 30 days’ worth of recorded video in the cloud (for $100 and $300 a year, respectively). Its latest $200 connected camera, the Dropcam Pro, offers high-definition video recording and a wide lens.

Home security also makes perfect sense for Nest, which has been focused on making the mundane and unloved gadgets in your home smarter. (Admittedly, home security isn’t as unloved as the lowly thermostat.)

It’s a category that fits well alongside the Nest smart thermostat, which can automatically regulate your home’s temperature, and the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Both of those connected gadgets can already communicate with each other, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to see a connected camera and home security joining that family.

Dropcam recently announced Tabs, tiny motion-sensing devices that can be attached to just about anything, as well as the ability to identify people through its cameras.

Google could likely find a cheaper company to snap up than Dropcam, but it’s definitely more convenient to acquire a company with heavily tested products and a robust product platform. Apple is also reportedly going to launch a smart home platform at its developers conference next week, which could fuel Google’s desire to expand Nest’s scope as quickly as possible.