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????Nest Labs是硅谷炙手可熱的新創企業，融合了蘋果的設計風格和互聯網產品理念，而且還低碳。之前普遍認為這家公司將在2014年或2015年上市，并有報道稱Nest正在籌集1.5億美元的風險投資，其估值約為20億美元。本周三的消息打破了人們原先的猜測，Nest已經和股東之一谷歌達成協議——后者將以32億美元現金收購前者全部資產。 ????Nest為什么要賣？這對其的未來有有何影響？在收購消息宣布后，《財富》編輯馬上對Nest的聯合創始人兼首席執行官托尼?法德爾進行了專訪。以下為部分節選： ????《財富》：你為什么會選擇把公司賣掉？ ????法德爾：大多數公司有兩種出路：要么獨立發展，要么聯合其他公司的力量，被吸納到一起。谷歌的收購為我們勾繪出了一個充滿希冀的未來前景：收購后我們可以享有大公司的全部資源，同時保有Nest未來的獨立性。 ????這就是打動了Nest管理團隊的點。我們中的大多數都曾在大公司任職過，明白大公司的規模有助于在全球開展生意。對我們來說，與其費時費力地搞區別不大的基礎建設，遠不如專注于產品和服務上，產品和服務正是我們所最為擅長的。這樣我們能加速發展。在面對接下來被我們稱為“智能家居”的產品浪潮之時，可以一直站在前列。 ????你是什么時候開始和谷歌接觸進行洽談的？ ????我們開始接觸是在2011年2月，一次極其偶然的機會讓我們遇見謝爾蓋（谷歌聯合創始人之一——譯注）。從那以后，Nest和谷歌一直保持緊密聯系，相互學習。雙方第一次正式建立關系是谷歌風投參與了Nest的B輪融資，之后他們又進行了一輪投資。這是一次愉快而充滿驚喜的合作。 ????去年夏天，當我們正在計劃發展更多技術合作伙伴一類關系的時候，谷歌方面詢問我們它還可以做些什么。我們當時擱置了這一問題，因為那會兒公司正在忙于新產品Nest Protect的發貨。 但當我們尋求新一輪的投資時，谷歌開始提出它的收購計劃。我們所有的選擇都擺在眼前，但最終決定和錢沒有關系。其他投資者們提出來的基本上都是空頭支票。我們這么做是考慮到了公司規模，以及依賴谷歌的實力我們可以更快地推出二代產品。 ????當谷歌提出它的收購計劃時，你是否試圖聯絡過其他有意向的收購者？ ????我們的目標是擴展視野。有多少家公司有這個實力呢？我是要給自己搬個新家，而不是賣掉舊車。 ????好吧，讓我們說的更具體些：你是否嘗試過和蘋果公司達成交易？ ????這個問題恕我不便討論。 ????你覺得蘋果公司還會在它的網上商店銷售Nest的產品嗎？ ????我們擁有十分熱情且忠誠的iOS用戶和安卓用戶。我們并不會像蘋果和谷歌那樣進行競爭。將我們從蘋果零售店中移除、減少iOS客戶的選擇，這是蘋果的權利，對我們來說沒有意義。我們十分珍惜自己和蘋果的關系，就在今天我還收到了許多身在庫比蒂諾（蘋果總部所在地）的蘋果員工們的祝福信息。 ????對你來說，谷歌具備如摩托羅拉、谷歌眼鏡等硬件專長這一點有多重要？ ????這一點很重要，但不僅是關于硬件，還有軟件、服務等其他方面。Nest也不僅是三者之一，我們會在硬件、軟件、服務這三個方面綜合發展。（財富中文網） ????譯者：王曉彤?? |
????FORTUNE -- Nest Labs is on of the hottest companies in Silicon Valley, combining the Internet-of-things with Apple-style design and an ability to reduce carbon consumption. It was widely believed to be an IPO candidate for either 2014 or 2015, with reports that it was in talks to raise another $150 million in venture capital at around a $2 billion valuation. ????Until today, when the company agreed to be acquired by Google (GOOG) -- an existing shareholder in the company -- for $3.2 billion in cash. ????So why sell? And what does it mean for Nest's future? What follows is an edited transcript of an interview with Nest co-founder and CEO Tony Fadell, conducted shortly after the announcement: ????Fortune: Why did you choose to sell the company? ????Fadell: Most companies have 2 paths: They either can stay independent or they can join forces with another company and get absorbed into it. Google made a very strong pitch for how we could have all the resources of a large company while retaining the independence of a next-generation Nest. ????That's what sold the management team at the end of the day. Most of us have been inside of a large company before and understand what large company scale applied directly can do to help create a world-class business. For us to spend more time building non-differentiated infrastructure rather than focus on products and services -- which is what we do best -- doesn't make sense. This allows us to accelerate and stay in front of the coming wave of products for what we like to call the conscious home. ????When did you first start talking to Google? ????Well, we started in February 2011 when we met Sergey on an off-chance, and the company since then has been very keen about learning more and working together. The first formal relationship was when Google Ventures made its first investment in our Series B round, and then made its second investment -- which we were very, and pleasantly, surprised by. ????Then last summer when we were planning more tech partnership-type relationships, Google asked how it could do more. We put them on hold for a while because we had to ship our next product, the Nest Protect, but when we began entertaining our next round of funding Google started presenting its case for an acquisition. All of our options were on the table and, at the end of the day, it wasn't about the money. Investors were basically offering us blank checks. It was about the scale and being able to realize the second generation quicker. ????Once Google made its pitch, did you reach out to other potential acquirers? ????Our goal was about accelerating our vision, and how many companies are really in position to do that? I'm going to a new home, not selling a used car. ????Okay, more specifically: Did you discuss a possible deal with Apple (AAPL)? ????I'm not at liberty to discuss that. ????Do you believe Apple will continue to sell Nest products in its stores? ????We have incredibly passionate iOS users and incredibly passionate Android users. We don't compete with what Apple or Google does, so while to reduce choice to users by removing us from Apple retail stores would be their perogative, it doesn't make sense to me. We very much value our Apple relationship, and today I've gotten a lot of nice notes from people in Cupertino. ????How important to you was it that Google now has hardware expertise, from Motorola to Glass? ????It's important, but it's not just hardware. It's hardware, software and services... Nest isn't just bringing one of those three things, we're bringing all three of those. |
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