Amazon today introduced Amazon Cloud Cam, an intelligent indoor security camera. Separately, the company announced Amazon Key, a new service exclusively for Prime members that will allow the company's staff to leave packages in your home even when you're not there.
The Cloud Cam features 1080p Full HD resolution video, night vision, two-way audio, a wide viewing angle, and activity clips from the last 24 hours via the Amazon Cloud Cam App - all for $119.99. Cloud Cam also is available for under $100 each via a two-pack for $199.99 or a three-pack for $289.99, making it easy to outfit your entire home. Cloud Cam is available for pre-order at www.amazon.com/CloudCam and will begin shipping to U.S. customers on November 8.
Cloud Cam is also the first security camera to support Amazon Key, a new service that enables in-home delivery and secure home access for guests and service appointments, without anyone having to be home. Using Cloud Cam and the free Amazon Key App, you can track each delivery with notifications, watch the entry happen live or view a recorded video after delivery is complete. You can also get notifications when your guests unlock your door. The Amazon Key In-Home Kit, which includes Cloud Cam (Key Edition) and a compatible smart lock, is available exclusively to Prime members.
Cloud Cam works with Alexa on Echo Show, Echo Spot, Amazon Fire TV devices, and Fire tablets. Just say, "Alexa, show me the [camera name]" to see the feed from anywhere in the house. Or use the free iOS or Android app to see your Cloud Cam on the go. The motion detection and computer vision technology provides customizable notifications in the Cloud Cam App, so you only get the alerts that matter to you. When activity is detected, Cloud Cam sends a mobile notification and stores the clip to review.
Cloud Cam comes with the essentials for keeping an eye on your home, including access to the last 24 hours of clips, which are stored securely in the AWS cloud and support for up to three cameras. With a subscription, you can support up to 10 cameras, get additional storage for video, and have unlimited downloads and shares of video clips. Each subscription also offers Person Detection, which flags human activity instead of general motion (like a pet walking), and Zones, which lets you indicate certain areas of your home with motion that you want ignored (like a ceiling fan). Amazon is offering any subscription for free for 30 days.
- Basic ($6.99/mo, $69/yr) offers access to the last 7 days of motion detection clips for up to 3 cameras
- Extended ($9.99/mo, $99/yr) offers access to the last 14 days of motion detection clips for up to 5 cameras
- Pro ($19.99/mo, $199/yr) offers access to the last 30 days of motion detection clips for up to 10 cameras
The Amazon Key service is exclusively for Amazon Prime members. It enables in-home delivery and secure home access for guests and service appointments.
For $250, Prime members in 37 American cities can have Amazon install the kit in their homes. Then, upon arriving with a package when you?re nowhere to be seen, delivery drivers can let themselves in.
Each time a delivery driver requests access to a customer?s home, Amazon verifies that the correct driver is at the right address, at the intended time, through an encrypted authentication process. Once this process is successfully completed, Amazon Cloud Cam starts recording and the door is then unlocked.
The firm is at pains to point out that delivery staff never have access to door codes or keys. It also says customers can watch footage from the Cloud Cam either live or later in the day to ease their mind. And if it does all go wrong, Amazon vice president of delivery technology Peter Larsen tells Reuters, "you can call customer service, file a claim, and Amazon will work with you to make sure it?s right."
This technology doesn't simply replace a key with a digital passcode. Each time a delivery driver requests access to a customer's home, Amazon verifies that the correct driver is at the right address, at the intended time, through an encrypted authentication process. Once this process is successfully completed, Amazon Cloud Cam starts recording and the door is then unlocked. No access codes or keys are ever provided to delivery drivers. In-home delivery is backed by Amazon's Happiness Guarantee.
Amazon Key will be available on November 8 in 37 cities and surrounding areas across the U.S., with more locations rolling out over time. Delivery is available on tens of millions of items sold on Amazon.com and the delivery is available at no extra cost for Prime members. Amazon Key works with Same-Day, One-Day, Two-Day and Standard Shipping. Once set-up is complete, receiving in-home delivery is as simple as a click: customers select "in-home" while shopping and Amazon handles the rest.
There's still a huge question mark over whether consumers are actually prepared to have delivery staff enter their homes, even if they do bear the gifts of consumerism.