ADT is Now Selling and Installing Google Nest Speakers and Displays
Last year, Google and ADT announced a partnership (by way of an $450M investment from Google in ADT) and now we are starting to see what will come out of that partnership. Beginning this month, ADT will sell Google Nest products with installation and consultation services for those products provided by ADT techs. Existing ADT Command & Control customers and those with Blue by ADT security systems will now be able to control their systems using a Nest Mini, Nest Hub, or Nest Hub Max to do things like arming and disarming ADT systems, and controlling lights, locks, and thermostats.
The NPD Take:
- Prices for the Google Nest devices through ADT line up with the MSRP for the speakers if you were to buy them from say, the Google Store or Best Buy – and include free installation. That said, it is a rare week when we don’t see Google’s little speaker (and its displays) being offered at some sort of discount, whether on sale or as part of a bundle. This full price offer from ADT will hold the most appeal for those consumers who truly care more about convenience than cost.
Where Won’t Wyze Go?
It has been a few weeks since we last heard of new products from Wyze, so it makes complete sense that they are back it again with some new debuts. First is 24/7 home security monitoring and second is a smart floor lamp. Via a partnership with connected safety company Noonlight, Wyze customers can now create a DIY connected home security system with professional monitoring for $4.99 per month. If paying annually, Wyze is including a core starter kit (hub, keypad, 2 entry sensors, and 1 motion sensor) for free. Switching gears, the new $29.99 Wyze Floor Lamp is a smart dimming task lamp and uses a Bluetooth remote for 11 levels of brightness adjustment. over time, AI is supposed to learn the users’ desired settings.
The NPD Take:
- Wyze has been ultra-busy with its product launched schedule. This home security monitoring solution should generate great apple among those Wyze consumers who have already become big fans of the Wyze cams. Wyze was very wise to throw in the starter kit for free with an annual subscription – a small hit in hardware revenue in favor of guaranteed service revenue for a year.
Apple TV/HomePod and Smart Display Mystery Products
Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is working on some sort of mystery product that would combine an Apple TV with a HomePod….and add in a camera for FaceTime. Bloomberg also says Apple considering the launch of a high-end speaker with a touch screen and camera, aka a smart display. Development of both is apparently still in the early stages, and thus key features could change…or the product(s) not launch at all.
The NPD Take:
- Apple’s share of both the streaming media player market and the smart speaker market is below what it should be, based on the brand’s super strong performance in other areas (though the HomePod Mini more recently has been helping to address the gap on the speaker side). Though neither Amazon nor Google have yet to come out with an SMP/speaker, there are products already out there…such as the Roku Streambar. Obviously, there is already strong competition in smart displays from Amazon, Google, and Facebook. If these products took off, they could broaden the number of home hubs to enable HomeKit control.