Report: Google “considering” purchase of Dropcam, Apple has also shown interest

Earlier this year Google acquired smart-thermostat company Nest, and according to a new report out of The Information, the company is not planning on stopping its quest to enter the home automation and security market. The report claims that Google has “considered” acquiring Dropcam, the makers of a system that streams live footage directly to phones and computers.

The report goes on to say that the status of talks and negotiations between the two companies is unclear at this point and that spokespeople for both companies did not reply to requests for comment.

Google’s Nest division is plotting a move into the home-security market and has considered acquiring connected camera-maker Dropcam to accelerate the push, according to several people close to Google.

The status of any talks between Google and Dropcam, which makes a $150 camera that streams footage to phones and computers, isn’t clear. Spokespeople for both companies did not respond to requests for comment.

Earlier today, a report emerged claiming that Apple is planning to launch a smart home system at WWDC next week. The Information report somewhat corroborates those reports, claiming that Dropcam has received interest form a variety of companies, in addition to Google, about an acquisition. Apple is reportedly included in those companies and has reached out to Dropcam, according to people “close” to the home security company.

Dropcam currently sells a $150 camera that connects to your home’s WiFi network and streams footage to an app, available on both smartphones and computers. This allows you to keep tabs on the security of your home while away. Should Google follow through with its negotiations and purchase Dropcam, it would mark the second home security/automation company it has purchased in the last four months. It picked up Nest in January for a whopping $3.2 billion, although that acquisition has been far from smooth so far, with the company having to recall 440,000 smoke detectors due to a safety hazard, in addition to removing them from the market.