Scout Security Limited (ASX: SCT) is expanding its Amazon Alexa Guard integration with the addition of Amazon’s new Guard Plus feature set, launching in 2021. Guard Plus will be an additional premium paid service available from the two companies.
In August 2020, Scout announced that the core Alexa Guard feature set would be available immediately to Scout and Alexa customers. Scout includes Guard as part of its Always On+ subscription for no additional charge.
Alexa Guard uses Amazon Echo devices to detect the sounds of glass breaking, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, much in the same way that Scout sensors detect events and trigger Scout’s security system.
Users can opt to send Smart Alerts when these events occur and integrate with Scout Alarm for police dispatch when an alert is received. Consumers need a Scout alarm system with the Always On+ plan to take advantage of police dispatch, but all Amazon Alexa users can receive Smart Alerts from these events.
Building on the utility of the core Guard feature set, Amazon has launched a premium service, Alexa Guard Plus, and in an announcement on September 24th (USA) has named Scout as one of a limited list of 2021 Guard Plus launch partners.
Alexa Guard Plus will expand on a Scout system with the core Guard product in the following ways:
- Detect Potential Intruders when you’re away if Alexa identifies unexpected sounds, such as footsteps and doors closing. These events can be forwarded to Scout and users are sent Smart Alerts.
- Deter Intruders with the ability to play audible sounds from Alexa devices, such as dogs barking, when outdoor-facing cameras detect motion.
Emergency Helpline Access will allow customers to call for help through Alexa devices using phrases such as “Alexa, call for help” to connect to emergency response agents in Scout’s monitoring centre.
While the Guard feature set is available at no additional charge to existing Scout Always On+ subscribers and Alexa customers as an extension of each company’s core offering, both Amazon and Scout will charge additional fees to end users who choose to subscribe to Guard Plus.
Scout CEO, Dan Roberts, said that while the company does not have a basis for projecting the overall revenue impact from offering, as the revenue splits are yet to be determined, this additional paid service will mark the first additional fee-for-service offering from Scout outside its current subscription plans and is the first time that Amazon and Scout will be sharing revenue.
Amazon’s Alexa platform continues to be one of the most popular integrations we offer for the Scout system and, over the years, the use cases for voice assistants have expanded dramatically,” Mr Roberts said.
“We’re excited to be able to leverage some of the advancements in home audio detection to offer an additional service that, we believe, will add another layer of security to our customers’ homes.
“For several years, our team has investigated the ways we might mimic home occupancy as a deterrent to intruders, and the Guard Plus feature set is, in our opinion, a major step in the right direction for smart home security.”
The integration between Scout and Alexa Guard Plus will be available in CYQ1 2021.
