Google: Existing Works with Nest connections will continue to work after August

Existing connections between Nest products and services from third-party developers will continue to function as of August 31, Google has announced. New features through the Google Account will not be available to those who continue to use their Nest Account.

Google updated and clarified its policy in a blog post after many Nest users came up with questions and criticisms. Google announced last week that it would stop using the Works with Nest APIs from August 31. Links between Nest devices and those of third parties via, for example, ifttt would then no longer work.

Google has come back to this and reports that existing connections will be preserved, but that no new Works with Nest connections will be accepted from that date. “Once your WwN feature is available on the Works with Google Assistant platform, you can migrate from a Nest account to a Google account with minimal disruption,” the company said.

In addition, users who continue to use their Nest account will not receive the new features that become available with a Google account. Google also does not rule out the possibility of making changes to existing WwN connections, but the company promises to inform users about this.

The goal of the shift from Works with Nest to Works with Google Assistant, according to the company, is to provide a single smart home platform that third parties can tap into. Google is working with Amazon to migrate the Nest skill that will allow users to control their Nest thermostat and camera with Alexa, and Google is also working with partners to integrate other ecosystems.

According to the company, there are now 3,500 partners and 30,000 devices that work with Works with Google Assistant.