How can I Integrate Third-Party Services into My Nest App?

As a brand, Nest has undergone a number of key changes in the recent past. In turn, this has led to questions and concerns from the brand’s device users. One of the most burning questions at present is “Can I integrate third-party services into my Nest app?”

In order to get an answer to this question, let us get better acquainted with the brand and the changes that have taken place.

Understanding the Works with Nest Program

To date, Nest has been supporting the integration of third-party services on its Nest app by virtue of the Works with Nest (WWN) program. Created in 2014, WWN is a facility that allows connected home products from third-party manufacturers to work with Nest.

Basically, they “take what Nest knows” and use this information to personalise user experience. Google has even developed a WWN website that keeps tabs on all gadgets that are compatible with Nest devices.

Here are some of the third-party services that work with Nest:

• Evrything – A B2B cloud platform that works with smart systems, both at home and in the office, to facilitate control of Nest devices remotely
• Ooma Telo – A smart connection platform between your home internet and phone that lets you set up cheap VoIP services
• IFTTT – This is among the most popular services that work with Nest and lets you create your own smart system solution that can work with all of the brand’s devices
• WeatherBug Home – A service that checks the weather and communicates with your Nest devices to create a budget for cooling and heating your home
• Roost – A Windows app that monitors Nest devices when you are working on your computer
• Yonomi – A service that specialises in creating smart home scenes with multiple factors
• Google – As expected, Google’s Home app and voice assistant works with Nest for smart home control
• EPR WristTemp Pro – This makes your Android smartwatch a control centre for your Nest ecosystem
• Motorola Moto Loop – A family management app that keeps track of the young ones and smart devices in your home
• Netvibes – A service that uses its own ‘Dashboard of Things’ to set up and manage scenes
• Vinli – An app that works on both Android and iOS to track your vehicle’s location so that it can start scenes with Nest appliances when you arrive home

What is Happening at Google and Nest?

Since Nest joined Google’s hardware team in 2018, the company has been working towards making the smart home a little less complex than it currently is. The idea behind this is to simplify product setup, make it easier to manage devices and have them work seamlessly together.

In order to achieve that goal, Google announced on August 19^th, 2019 that it would be bringing all Nest and Google Home products under one brand, Google Nest. Following this move there will be:

A Single Account for All Devices

The announcement explained that, over the months following the change, Nest Account users will get an invitation to migrate to Google Accounts.

A Single Ecosystem for Third-Party Devices and Services

The collective brand will also seek to unify efforts to link third-party connected home devices on a single developer platform. This would not only be a one-stop-shop for developers but also for customers looking to build a more streamlined smart home.

Google Nest will still commit to supporting WWN integrations that customers value. It will also make an effort to minimise service disruptions during the transition.

Existing integrations and devices will still continue to work with users’ Nest Accounts. However, users will not have access to the new features that will only be available on Google Accounts. Since August 31^st, 2019, Nest has not been accepting any new WWN connections. With time, WWN functionality will become available on the Works with Google Assistant (WWGA) platform.

At that time, it will be advisable to migrate from Nest Accounts to Google Accounts, as there will be minimal disruption. Similarly, the Nest app will continue to be available.

What Happens Next?

The smart home has evolved considerably since the creation of the WWN program in 2014. At that time, there was no single platform for managing or controlling Nest devices with other smart home appliances.

But the smart home has grown in leaps and bounds since then and, as expected, people’s way of interacting with devices has also changed. At the centre of the smart home experience, today is voice control using smart assistants like Google Assistant.

For this reason, Google Nest has elected to transition from WWN to WWGA to support cross-product integrations in a more efficient manner.

At the moment, Google Assistant works with upwards of 3,500 brands that specialise in home automation, as well as over 30,000 devices.

From Works with Nest to Works with Google Assistant

Currently, WWN makes it possible for third-party service and device developers to get direct access and control over Nest devices. WWGA will take this functionality a step further by facilitating voice control over all connected, compatible devices.

A major improvement in the service is that third-party developers will no longer have the ability to ask for permission to access your Nest devices directly. Thus, your data will be more private and secure.

When a user migrates from their Nest Account to a Google Account, existing Works with Nest connections will no longer get support. However, users can still maintain the integrations on the Nest Account. Once the WWGA platform becomes operational, it will be possible to migrate third-party integrations from WWN to the new platform.