Alexa Guard Plus expands home audio surveillance for $4.99 per month

Amazon Guard Plus

Alexa Guard Plus is a security and safety system built around enhancing the listening powers of Alexa products to flag more abnormal noises for $4.99 per month.

Amazon is utilizing the Echo smart speakers and smart displays you already own to detect security and safety threats. The service adds onto the existing Amazon Guard system that listened for alarms or sounds.

With the Alexa Guard Plus subscription users will be able to call trained emergency response agents that will request an ambulance, or contact the police, or fire department when needed. Just ask Alexa to "call for help."

Alexa Guard already monitored your home for shattering glass, fire alarms, or CO alarms. Now it will listen for unusual activity like footsteps or doors shutting when you are not home and alert you.

While you are away, Alexa Guard Plus will play sounds of dogs barking if motion is detected outside. If activity is detected inside, it will play a siren to deter thieves. Lights automatically turn off/on for the free Alexa Guard plan, and continue to do so for Alexa Guard Plus.

Alexa Guard Plus is included with Ring Protect Plus at no additional cost. Starting in 2021, Alexa Guard Plus will also be available through partners including Abode, Scout Alarm, Resideo, and Wylie.

Alexa Guard Plus Compatibility

Echo
Echo Dot
Echo Plus
Echo Flex
Echo Show 5
Echo Show 8
Echo Show 10

Follow AppleInsider on Google News

10 Comments

cpsro 3200 comments · 14 Years

About 3 years ago

While you're home, Alexa will note which shows you watch and which commercials you listened to rather than muting or talking over.

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

Houses and businesses all over New York City, Portland, Seattle, Louisville and any other city beset with street hoodlums and acts of domestic terror need these installed inside and outside their properties. Increase the surveillance which has proven invaluable to convicting criminals.

dewme 5393 comments · 10 Years

I use the free Alexa Guard feature with my Echo devices because it fills a gap in Ring Alarm's sensor catalog, which is missing a glass breakage sensor. I can't figure out why Amazon isn't consolidating their Alexa Guard offerings under the Ring brand to round out their Ring portfolio more completely. When it comes to a roll-your-own home security package Ring is as close to being a complete, turnkey solution that you can get. The amazingly affordable professional monitoring that includes cloud based camera history storage for all of your Ring cameras blows away everything else on the market. It's only gotten better over time and they'll soon be offering end-end camera video/audio encryption - with a caveat. The caveat being that the end-end encryption will not work with Echo Show devices. Perhaps newer Show devices will be updated to allow encrypted video.

I think there are some folks who are mad at Ring for not following through (yet?) on their promise to support HomeKit. Perhaps that will change, but I wouldn't hold my breath. It's unfortunate because Ring+Amazon has the closest thing to a turnkey solution comprised of all in-house components and services. My biggest knock on HomeKit is the fact that it's founder/creator (Apple) doesn't offer turnkey anything. It's a bag of parts and services that you have to put together yourself, not a solution you can buy from one vendor. The ideal scenario for me is to have both options available, turnkey for folks who want to do a one-stop shop, and pieces and parts for people who want to pick & choose the best of breed components for each required function. Not having a turnkey offering creates too high of a hurdle for a lot of folks.

viclauyyc 847 comments · 10 Years

Now Jeff want to know what is going on your house even you are not in the house.

another big NO