Apple's senior vice president of global marketing Phil Schiller is not too happy with Google's acquisition of Nest. He has unfollowed Nest CEO Tony Fadell on Twitter.
Google's Nest acquisition has created a buzz in the media; it is one of the most high-profile acquisitions by the tech giant. But this has not pleased Google's rival companies. Apple's senior vice president of global marketing Phil Schiller expressed his abhorrence by "unfollowing" Nest CEO Tony Fadell and the Nest Company's official Twitter accounts just a few days after the deal was settled for $3.2 billion cash.
Schiller, who currently follows 119 people on Twitter, and Fadell, who is regarded as "the godfather of the iPod" for his work on the iconic music player, were former colleagues before Fadell moved to form his own firm, Nest Labs. Nest attracted many high ranking executives from Apple including former director of iPod software, Bryan James, and former chief patent counsel, Chip Lutton Jr.
The first Nest product, the Nest Learning Thermostat, was first launched exclusively for Apple in 2012 and the second gen device is among the third-party accessories sold at Apple's retail outlets.
"We're thrilled to join Google," Fadell said on Google's Investor Relations blog. "With their support, Nest will be even better placed to build simple, thoughtful devices that make life easier at home, and that have a positive impact on the world."
Apple has yet not decided on Nest's role in the company and what shape it will take in the future but the web giant said that the company will "operate under the leadership of Tony Fadell and with its own distinct brand identity."