Whirlpool Integrates Products with Nest - Analyst Blog

Leading worldwide home appliances producer Whirlpool Corp. WHR declared that it will integrate operations with Nest devices via the Nest Developer Program. This program deals with predicting consumers' needs and accordingly designing products to simplify their lives.

Nest Labs is a home automation company that designs and manufactures sensor-driven, Wi-Fi-enabled, self-learning, programmable thermostats and smoke detectors. It was co-founded by former Apple Inc. AAPL engineers Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers in 2010. Nest was acquired by Google Inc. (GOOGL) for $3.2 billion in cash earlier this year, in a bid to get a foothold in the home market. However, Nest continues its operations as a distinct brand even after the closure of the deal.

By participating in the "Works with Nest" Program, Whirlpool will make full use of the application programming interfaces (APIs) with a view to build a thoughtful and meaningful home experience, commencing with laundry.

With the belief that by working together Whirlpool and Nest can create an enriched experience for customers which is beyond the scope of a single producer, the 2 companies jointly came up with a "Works with Nest" washer and dryer. This new product, connected to the Nest Learning Thermostat, fully utilizes Nest's Home and Away methods, and is available online at the The Home Depot, Inc. HD website.

The washer and dryer are capable of maintaining the freshness of clothes even when they are not attended to for a prolonged period of time. Moreover, for customers registered with Nest's Rush Hour Rewards program, via an active energy provider, this product can delay the beginning of a cycle automatically in times of high energy demand.

Also, by using the Whirlpool Smart Appliance App, found on the Google Play and App store, customers can sync their Nest account to this new laundry combination.

Whirlpool's collaboration with Nest is part of its corporate strategy to work with companies which share its goal of innovation and come up with products inspired by consumer requirements. Currently, Whirlpool carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).