Another vendor is trying to make a go of a series of products which control home devices over the internet. The latest entrant in the field is Schlage Lock, which has fielded a group of home security products.

The company calls the product line Schlage Link. Although they are not the first such products to be introduced over the last several years, Schlage is hoping that its very visible brand name and rich feature set will make this series of products more successful than those previously introduced. The products allow the use of the internet to control home locks, lighting, thermostats, and Web cams.

Because security is the company’s forte, center stage in the lineup goes to the new door lock. The lock can be opened conventionally with a key, or by a four-digit code, which has become common over the last several years. This lock, though, can also be controlled via online sites or mobile devices which are connected to the internet. The lock can even alert its owner via SMS message any time the door is opened, or if several incorrect entry codes have been entered in a row, an indication of a possible break-in attempt.

The range of control is fairly sophisticated, and uses an on-line control panel. The owner can program the system to turn certain lights on when a door is opened, to allow the use of specific codes for entry only at specified times of day, or even to send a photo from a Web cam to the owners phone whenever the door is opened so the identity of the person who has entered can be ascertained. The system supports the use of a variety of cellular phones from a variety of cellular service providers. The system provides it’s own wireless networking system.

It seems that there are always a few early adopters of systems like this. It may be the same people that have been buying these system since they were first introduced by vendors like Radio Shack in the 1980s. Up to this point, no similar system has enjoyed great success in the marketplace. This system is clearly aimed at the upscale buyer, with basic hardware costs starting at about $300, plus a monthly network access fee of $12.99. With year-one costs over $450, this  system and service might be another hard sell.

Related:

Entry was posted on Friday, January 9th, 2009 at 11:48 pm under Cell phones, Internet, Security, Technology.

Read more entries by Michael W. Jones.
Stumble It!