Six in 10 U.S. broadband households feel “safe enough” with only a professionally monitored home security system vs. 55% with only self-monitored, reported Parks Associates Wednesday. Security smart home devices deliver a similar feeling of protection as a home security system for most households, creating a “serious challenge to the traditional home security industry as cost is a major barrier” to adoption, said Brad Russell. Smart home security devices are an alternative for cost-conscious consumers purchasing home security equipment, said the analyst; bundles combining an all-in-one camera and an outdoor light fixture with a camera are the most appealing. CE manufacturers entering the do-it-yourself security space are bringing expertise in product design “that improves ease-of-use and attractiveness in smart home products,” he said, putting pressure on legacy security manufacturers.

Arlo announced a battery-powered, wire-free version of its Wired Video Doorbell. It has a 180-degree viewing angle with a square 1:1 aspect ratio, marketed toward porch piracy: “Users can see packages on the ground or visitors from head-to-toe on their mobile devices.” Features include HD video resolution, two-way audio and personalized alerts. Best Buy and other retailers are taking preorders for the $199 device that’s due to ship in time for holiday season, said the company Tuesday.

More than a third of U.S. broadband homes that returned a smart home device in the past 12 months cited difficulty in setup, installation or usage, blogged Parks Associates Monday. With competition growing among connected device makers, players can compete on the experience they deliver to customers, said analyst Kristen Hanich. “Brands who are quick to embrace IoT data to optimize their customers' ownership experience will lead the next generation of consumer products,” said Frank Zvi, co-CEO of Copilot, which will host a webinar with Parks Wednesday at noon EDT.

U.S. broadband homes have an average of 12 connected devices, growing to an expected 20 in five years, said Parks Associates Monday. That will mean challenges in capacity and security, said analyst Brad Russell: “The number of connected devices in the home is increasing just as people are adding strain to the home network with more work-at-home and video streaming activities.” Consumers, recognizing the need to secure smart home systems and optimize connectivity solutions, value a “holistic solution that can deliver on safety and performance,” he said. ISPs can differentiate their services by offering customers whole home Wi-Fi management and IoT security, said Ronald Peters, Irdeto product manager.

Do-it-yourself security company Swann is shipping a battery-powered security camera with face recognition and cloud and local storage. The camera can recognize up to 10 people. Features include mic and speaker, Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, heat and motion sensing, night vision up to 26 feet, 1080p resolution and a 180-degree viewing angle, Swann said. It’s IP65-rated to withstand rain, snow and heat. Security includes two-factor authentication, 128-bit encryption of video and data, along with a personalized username and password safeguards, said the company. Footage is saved to a secure cloud for seven days for free, with two days of local backup; recording continues in the event of an internet or power outage and is automatically backed up to the cloud when issues are resolved, Swann said. A single camera has a $149 retail price; a five-pack at Sam's Club is $499.

Crestron will launch Crestron HomeTime Monday, in collaboration with Logitech and Zoom, to deliver what it calls a premier videoconferencing, home control and unified communications (UC) experience. Designed for socializing, remote learning and working from home, it includes a Logitech 4K MeetUp conference camera and Crestron’s UC Engine to deliver Zoom Rooms, it said. Users can host and join Zoom meetings without a laptop, using “one-touch join” from a Crestron remote or mobile app; they can use a TV to see participants in larger video windows. The camera has a wide-angle lens to capture a group in the frame. The camera's full-range speaker is said to deliver high-quality, “intelligible” audio, and a full-duplex, advanced beamforming microphone enables natural conversation, Crestron said. HomeTime was created to overcome challenges families are experiencing as they try to socialize, learn and work from home, said John Clancy, Crestron vice president-residential. “It’s time to end the awkward conversations. No more crowding around a laptop and talking over each other because you can’t follow who is speaking,” he said. Zoom’s Jeff Smith, head of Zoom Rooms, said the Crestron solution “raises the bar” of videoconferencing from home. It will be available exclusively through Crestron residential dealers.

Some 41% of U.S. broadband households are concerned about hackers accessing their devices, which could make them reluctant to buy connected products, blogged Parks Associates Thursday. Expansion of smart home adoption and online activity increases consumers’ vulnerability to cyber criminals “so all players would benefit from industry-level solutions that can deliver on the security of connected devices in the home,” said analyst Patrice Samuels. Parks plans a webinar on the need for residential IoT security standards Tuesday at 11 a.m. EDT.

U.S. professional residential security monitoring revenue will total $15.74 billion this year, with smart home services accounting for $1.2 billion, blogged Parks Associates Tuesday. Security system adoption reached a third of U.S. broadband households at the end of 2019, said analyst Brad Russell. Consumers now have an average 11.4 connected devices in their homes, creating opportunities to extend professional and “monitor-it-yourself” services, said the analyst. Fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic could create “a more challenging landscape” as customers cut spending over economic concerns, he said. Parks surveys show consumers recognize and value the safety, security, and economic benefits of monitoring services: Companies “can build off the value” with the right marketing and pricing strategies, Russell said. Central monitoring is a high-margin business, and many stations have excess monitoring capacity that could be used for new opportunities including energy usage monitoring, risk mitigation from flood and fire, health and safety of aging relatives, valuables tracking and appliance maintenance, he said.

E-paper company Visionect teamed with E Ink on Joan Home ($549), a six-inch touch screen that displays a home worker’s availability and the day’s calendar. The Wi-Fi device connects to a user’s calendar -- Exchange, G Suite, Office 365 or iCalendar -- and updates in real time, said the companies. The wire-free device adheres with a magnet to a clean surface. Battery life is given as up to three months.

Canadian smart lock maker Tapplock settled FTC allegations that it deceived consumers by falsely claiming its connected smart locks were designed to be "unbreakable" and that it took reasonable steps to secure data it collected. The settlement requires Tapplock to implement a comprehensive security program and obtain independent biennial assessments of the program, said the agency Monday. Tapplock said in its advertisements that its Bluetooth fingerprint-enabled connected padlocks were “bold,” “sturdy” and “secure,” said the complaint. The Tapplock app collects personal information including usernames, email addresses, profile photos, and the precise location of users’ smart locks, said the FTC, and the company claimed in its privacy policy it took “reasonable precautions” to secure the data it collected, said the complaint. The FTC alleged that despite what the company conveyed to consumers, its locks weren't secure and Tapplock failed to take reasonable precautions or follow industry best practices to protect the consumer data it collected. The company didn’t comment.