August launches HomeKit Smart Lock, numeric keypad, and doorbell camera
Those products include a new Apple HomeKit-enabled August Smart Lock, along with a smart keypad and doorbell camera. Revealed today, the new HomeKit-enabled August Smart Lock is an upgraded version of the Bluetooth-connected door lock that first launched past year.
Augmenting August Smart Lock is the Doorbell Cam which is powered by existing home wiring. HomeKit lets you use voice commands to set each of these accessories to preferred modes with one command.
The Smart Keypad is a small numbered keyboard that gives you code access into your home. In addition to these internal changes, the Smart Lock also gets a few design changes, with a magnetic faceplate concealing the batteries, and a chrome indicator to show whether it’s locked or unlocked. And if that weren’t enough, they also unveiled an entirely new device, a $200 (roughly £130 and AU$275 at the current exchange rate) Wi-Fi video doorbell, dubbed the August Doorbell Cam.
Those codes could be for one-time use – so that a single delivery could be dropped off – or last longer, so that house guests or extended family can come and go regularly. The Smart Keypad is battery-operated and can be self-installed within 10 minutes. As for the specs and features, it’s an HD cam with live-streaming capabilities, motion sensors, two-way talk, a 140-degree field of view and an upcoming subscription service for cloud-based video-clip storage.
Meanwhile, connected lock maker Kwikset also announced the new Kevo Plus Internet gateway that allows iPhone users to utilize the Kevo companion app to unlock and lock their doors remotely.
SAN FRANCISCO-(satPRnews.com)-August Home, Inc., today announced August Access, a first-of-its-kind platform that provides secure, trusted home access via the August Smart Lock for top service Providers, including home fix, delivery, shipping, cleaning, elderly care, dog walking, among others. The company also says that select products will also be available from Apple. Not interested in HomeKit?
The company said it is dropping the price of its existing, non-HomeKit-enabled, lock, to $199. It’s available for order today and will retail for $230. “Probably the best way to describe it is, much like, new transportation apps like Uber helps consumers find service providers [in this case, drivers for hire – ed.] are in third party transportation logistics, we’re in third party service logistics”. This may seem like a security issue however it’s not that far off from what many August users already do with trusted service partners like these.
August builds smart home access products and services that are safer than traditional keys, make life easier, and put you in control of your front door from anywhere in the world. August products work together, integrate with other smart devices and services, and are created to fit naturally and elegantly into the home.