AT&T Home Security: Powered by Google Home & Abode
▼ Summary
– AT&T is launching a new smart home security service called Connected Life, built around Google Home and designed to function during power or internet outages.
– The service features hardware from Google Nest and Abode, offers professional monitoring, and can be self-installed by the customer.
– Connected Life requires an AT&T wireless or internet subscription, with plans starting at $10.99 per month for features like video history and cellular backup.
– Two hardware packages are available: a $399 starter kit and a $699 advanced kit, which can also be paid for monthly.
– This launch follows AT&T’s previous shutdown of its Digital Life service and aligns with industry moves like Google’s smart home APIs used by ADT.
AT&T has introduced a new smart home security system called Connected Life, designed to integrate seamlessly with Google Home and provide reliable protection even during power or internet disruptions. This self-installed solution combines Google Nest cameras with Abode security hardware, offering a modern approach to home monitoring that includes professional oversight as an option. The launch represents AT&T’s renewed push into the home security market, following the closure of its earlier Digital Life service.
The service builds upon the smart home platform APIs Google released last year, which are also utilized by ADT’s ADT Plus system. To subscribe, customers must have an existing AT&T wireless or internet plan. Two monthly subscription tiers are available. The basic plan costs $10.99 per month and provides 30 days of video history, smart alerts for recognized people, pets, and packages, and crucial AT&T cellular backup to maintain system operation during outages. For more comprehensive coverage, the $21.99 per month professional plan adds 24/7 professional monitoring handled by Abode.
Customers can choose from two primary equipment bundles. The $399 starter kit comes with a Google Nest Doorbell, an Abode security hub featuring battery backup, one interior motion sensor, and two door or window sensors. For larger homes or those desiring more extensive coverage, an advanced kit is priced at $699. This package includes extra Abode sensors, a key fob, a wall-mounted keypad, and a battery-powered Google Nest camera. For those preferring not to pay upfront, AT&T offers a monthly financing option for the hardware as well.
This strategic move allows AT&T to leverage its robust cellular network for backup connectivity, a significant selling point for reliability. By partnering with established brands like Google and Abode, the company aims to deliver a user-friendly, integrated ecosystem that appeals to homeowners looking for a DIY security solution with the option for professional support. The system’s design emphasizes flexibility, allowing users to start with a core package and expand their sensor network over time based on their specific security needs.
(Source: The Verge)
