Smart access is trending in the field of home automation, and big names like Hampton, Amazon, August Home and Ring have all introduced improvement for their smart locks or access control systems at CES 2019.
Smart access is trending in the field of home automation, and big names like Hampton, Amazon, August Home and Ring have all introduced improvement for their smart locks or access control systems at CES 2019.
Hampton Products announced that its
Array family of connected devices will operate on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, which Hampton says can provide benefits like “instantaneous scaling storage” and “enhanced data privacy.”
Consumers, builders and remodelers will be the main beneficiaries as Hampton’s devices move quickly into retail and distributor channels, the company says.
Hampton currently offers smart locks and plans to launch security lights, light switches and other connected appliances. The soon-to-launch Video Coach and Security Lights will offer “an advanced smart home exterior lighting system that combines upscale, showroom-quality design and materials,” says Hampton.
Microsoft expressed positive outlook of the connected future. “Consumers are increasingly turning to connected home products to provide real-time insights, convenience and entertainment in their daily lives,” said Tom Davis, principal program manager of Azure IoT.
Key by Amazon
Smart entry appears to have gained more traction recently. Amazon just announced a series of new products, features and services supporting Key by Amazon at CES 2019.
“We started with the idea of in-home package delivery and quickly learned that our customers found peace of mind and delight from the control Key gives them over their most important place - their homes,” said Rohit Shrivastava, general manager of Key by Amazon.
Central to Key by Amazon is an app which allows users to grant access by unlocking third-party devices remotely. Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, unveiled at CES, is reportedly the first
Wi-Fi smart lock that can be controlled from Amazon’s Key app.
Chamberlain Group also teamed up with Amazon to enable garage access with Key. Chamberlain’s garage door opener is now controllable using the Key app. Users can monitor and open and close the garage from the app.
Ring is another company that has integrated Key into its smart products. Ring customers will be able to lock and unlock their Key-compatible smart locks.
Amazon also introduced a commercial application, by offering a smart fob for drivers delivering packages to commercial properties. Building owners and managers will be able to grant access to delivery persons without being onsite. The program works with most building access systems.
Emtek locks turn smart
Emtek, a high-end residential lock maker, will soon be upgraded to obtain smart functionalities with the help from
August Home. Both companies are under lockmaker
Assa Abloy. Emtek is on the same path of another Assa Abloy lock brand Yale, which has incorporated August’s connectivity module to turn their locks smart.
Now Emteck lock users will be able to control the lock from August’s smart home app. And the lock will also work with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit.
Yale, August and Ring form partnership
Yale announced at CES that its Z-Wave locks will soon connect with Ring Alarm. And August Home is working on something similar to connect some of its locks with Ring.
“Through this integration with Ring, Yale and August customers will be able to benefit from a fully connected access system where our smart locks will be in sync with the other products keeping their home safe and secure,” says Jason Williams, President of Yale’s Residential Group.
With this integration, the locks and the alarm system will work in sync. When the door is unlock, the alarm system will be automatically disarmed; and when the door is locked, the alarm system will be armed.