Many people questioned the $3.2 billion acquisition of Nest Labs by Google (GOOG 9.96%) (GOOGL 10.22%) this past January. Then again, people are questioning the company's increasing pace of acquisitions of hardware products in general. Say what you want, but it appears Google wants to begin learning our habits when we're connected to the world without staring into a computer or smartphone screen. Google is preparing for the Internet of Things.
Data from the Energy Information Administration demonstrate that the market for programmable thermostats, including top-of-the-line smart thermostats from Google and Honeywell International (HON 0.22%), could be quite large. Only 37% of consumers surveyed by the organization had a programmable central thermostat for heating, while just 29% had the same capability for cooling. Meanwhile, research firm Forrester found that only 2% of American adults with an online presence could remotely access their energy management systems. In other words, smart thermostats could be staring at a wide-open market opportunity representing 98% of potential customers.
Of course, that opportunity means little if smart thermostats aren't easy to understand, install, and value. Is throwing down $250 for the Nest Learning Thermostat really worth its potential benefits? How can Google and Honeywell International successfully market and message those benefits to consumers? And although the market opportunity is massive, how will that affect your portfolio? Let's dive into the details in the following presentation.
