Home Wi-Fi camera maker Arlo has announced a new video storage subscription package called Arlo Secure, which promises a flat monthly fee of $9.99 for an unlimited number of cameras. For $14.99 per month, the Arlo Secure Plus plan offers 4K resolution for an unlimited number of cameras as well as its Emergency Response feature that calls emergency responders to the location of the camera at the touch of a button.
This offering continues to blur the lines of differentiation between standalone security products and professionally monitored security systems. For less than the price of most professionally monitored security systems, Arlo offers self-monitoring with emergency access, making the differences between the systems and device solutions less pronounced. By comparison, ADT’s monthly monitoring costs $49.99 before installation costs, which are upwards of $1,000 for ADT’s most basic package.
Google has been taking a similar approach with its Nest brand and offers a Nest Aware subscription plan for $6 per month, which provides homeowners with 24/7 continuous video recording. The cheapest tier provides event history for five days, with more expensive plans covering up to 30 days. The popularity of standalone security products, including Wi-Fi cameras and doorbells, continues to challenge the former definitions and concepts of home security.
“The industry has long asked if standalone security products would be the undoing of the security systems business,” remarked Stuart Sikes, Senior Vice President at Interpret. “On the contrary, makers of smart security systems appear to be benefiting from the rising popularity of doorbell cameras, smart locks, Wi-Fi cameras and smart garage door controllers. Sales of both standalone and smart systems solutions have significantly increased, suggesting that both industries have a strong future.”
Interpret’s Smart Home Matrix™ research shows that differences between monitored security systems buyers and standalone camera buyers are becoming more subtle. The biggest difference is between renters and homeowners, as renters prefer standalone devices. Also, as the number of people in the home increases, likelihood of owning a pro-monitored system increases.
