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The Information reports Google (GOOG +1.7%), in a fresh attempt to boost usage of the its services, plans to offer small/mid-sized retail businesses "heavily subsidized" Wi-Fi hardware/software; the businesses would have to pay for the actual Web access. Automatic login would be provided via the HotSpot 2.0 standard.
- No word on whether Google plans to use home-grown hardware, or a third party's. Aruba (ARUN +0.8%) is supplying access points for Google's Starbucks Wi-Fi deal (involves Web access, rather than subsidized hardware). Ubiquiti (UBNT -1.3%) is targeting the SMB Wi-Fi market with aggressively-priced products.
- Newly-acquired Nest Labs is recalling 440K Nest Protect smoke alarms/carbon monoxide detectors due to a glitch that can lead users to accidentally turn them off with a hand gesture. Nest halted sales of Protect due to the issue in April, and began work on a software update.
- In addition to declaring it needs $20B-$30B in foreign cash for M&A (possibly to appease regulators who want the funds repatriated/taxed), Google's December letter to the SEC (just published) raised eyebrows by stating the company might one day serve ads on "refrigerators, car dashboards, thermostats, glasses, and watches, to name just a few possibilities."
- However, Google has responded to the uproar by stating the remarks don't reflect its current product roadmap, and that's "in contact with the SEC to clarify the language" in the filing.