Nokia’s Withings health division is up for sale, and that’s no secret to anyone who has been following the company. However, it has been revealed that Google’s Nest is interested in buying the business. The only thing that stands in its way are some politics from the French government.
The fact that Withings has not performed up to Nokia’s expectations came up in a leaked memo. In it, the company expressed that it could not see a way forward with the division, and would be interested in selling it off to interested parties.
Enter Nest, which is also in the process of being absorbed back into Google.
Nest’s largest obstacle appears to be within the French government. Which recently announced that it would like to promote the growth of AI research within the country. A policy that has it trying to encourage Nokia to sell Withings (which is itself French) within France.
While the French cannot force a sale to its liking, fighting them on the matter may not be in Nest and Google’s favour. Google recently established a new AI research facility in France.
There have been no official bids for Withings at the moment; with only a handful of companies showing interest. Nest is unlikely to make the first move at the moment, and would perhaps back out of the deal thanks to possible political pressure.
[Source: Wareable]
