亚马逊有Echo系列的智能家居和Ring照相机。谷歌岂能示弱？它昨天注资7.5亿美元给ADT, 一个员工多达2万人的硬件厂商兼营销/安装公司。以后ADT为谷歌提供独家服务，只卖谷歌的Nest系列产品。

ADT股价大涨。

英国金融时报的故事。

Google signs $750m deal with ADT to sell its Nest devices

US home security group will exclusively market tech giant’s cameras, thermostats and speakers.

Google has struck an exclusive $750m partnership with ADT to sell and develop its Nest smart home products, sending shares in the US security provider soaring to levels not seen since it was relisted by its private equity owners two years ago.

The deal entails Google taking a 7 per cent stake in ADT for $450m. In return, ADT will go from selling a range of cameras and other devices to only selling Nest products to consumers and small businesses.

The two companies will each put in another $150m in three tranches over the coming years, if certain conditions are met, towards marketing, training and product development.

This is transformational for us,” said Jim DeVries, chief executive of ADT, as its shares leapt by more than two-thirds in early trading on Monday. “This partnership with Google gives us an opportunity to absolutely accelerate our ability to compete in the smart-home space.”

The alliance comes at a time when Silicon Valley’s dealmaking has come under extra scrutiny by antitrust regulators in the US and Europe.

ADT’s 20,000-person sales and installation team will help distribute Nest’s internet-connected cameras, thermostats and smart speakers to residential and small business customers.

As well as expanding distribution and integration, Google’s investment will allow it to sideline competitors such as Amazon’s Ring cameras and Echo smart-home devices. Under the terms of the agreement, which regulatory filings say runs for seven years, ADT will exclusively sell Nest smart-home products, though larger corporate buyers will still be able to opt for other solutions.

“When it comes to hardware we have historically largely been agnostic,” Mr DeVries said. In future, ADT “will be exclusive with Google”, he said, with any kind of device that Nest does not make itself — such as garage-door openers — expected to integrate with its group’s smart-home platform.

ADT will also incorporate Google’s video and analytics technology, including its Nest Aware subscription-monitoring service.