Google's smart thermostat and home products maker Nest has announced it start allowing other companies to create apps that are designed to communicate with its devices.

The announcement marks the first time Nest has allowed third-party companies to access its gadgets, possibly opening the door to a number of apps that have made smartphones like Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy devices so popular.

Over 5,000 developers have already said they're interested in developing apps for Nest products, the company said, according to Reuters.

Nest also said it is working with companies like washer/dryer maker Whirlpool Corp. and garage door opener company Chamberlain.

When someone closes a garage door for example, the Nest Thermostat is alerted that the user is away from home, and to turn the heat off.

LED light bulbs from Lifx can be set to flash red if a Nest smoke detector senses smoke somewhere in a house.

Google purchased Nest back in January for $3.2 billion, demonstrating the company's determination to reach into a broad field of internet-connected devices.

Nest announced on June 20 its plans to purchase Dropcam, a video-monitoring home security product.

The company has bounced back since suffering a public relations nightmare in April when it stopped selling its smoke alarms due to a defect that could cause users to turn the alarm off by accident.

Nest started selling the device again earlier this month, though its "Wave" feature is still deactivated. The feature is an option that allowed users to stop false alarms with just the wave of a hand.

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