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Ecobee's Smart Security System Now Works With Home App and Siri

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Ecobee this week announced that its Smart Security home monitoring system now works with Apple's Home app, across devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Ecobee Smart Security
This integration allows you to view and change modes (Stay, Away, and Disarm) directly from an Ecobee smart thermostat's tile in the Home app, or by using Siri voice commands on an iPhone or iPad. You can also create HomeKit automations (such as "arm at 10 PM, disarm at 7 AM"), and receive push notifications for mode changes.

Ecobee's Smart Thermostat Premium can act as a security hub, eliminating the need to buy a standalone home security device. The thermostat can be paired with Ecobee's cameras and sensors, providing you with alerts for unexpected motion and entry, reminders to arm your home, smoke alarm detection, and more. In the U.S., Ecobee's Smart Security plan costs $5 per month, or $10 per month with 24/7 professional monitoring.

Ecobee's smart thermostats already worked with Apple's Home app for non-security features.

Tags: Ecobee, HomeKit Guide

Top Rated Comments

tennisproha Avatar
tennisproha
8 months ago
Looks like you still need to subscribe to their monitoring service to enable the security options so it's another required subscription when it could easily be a separate add-on.

Considering how expensive their sensors are, they aren't that well integrated into the Apple Home app. They have to be added via the ecobee app so aren't open to other devices in HomeKit.

Good hardware that's unnecessarily locked down. And most of all, they are Matter over Thread capable but ecobee refuses to activate it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
phrehdd Avatar
phrehdd
8 months ago

— There's an intruder in your house.
— Turn the heat to 300° and fry that mother...
and here I wanted him frozen in his tracks...go cold to -300
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexandr Avatar
alexandr
8 months ago
— There's an intruder in your house.
— Turn the heat to 300° and fry that mother...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smithrh Avatar
smithrh
8 months ago
Like Ecobee (or at least have liked them), but this is just a money grab.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
randyharris Avatar
randyharris
8 months ago

So then it does require a subscription, given the main function of a security system is alerts.

They could've easily exposed all the sensors and cameras to Apple Home, giving us full control over some pretty good Matter over Thread sensors. But they chose to lock them behind a paywall.

This is why I'm glad Apple is planning to launch their own cameras and sensors.
Obviously this isn't a solution for somebody who doesn't want to pay the subscription, this is less than I was paying for our old school alarm monitoring so maybe I am just desensitized to it, but I think the amount we save on our home owners insurance mostly offsets the alarm monitoring fee, so I see it largely as peace of mind, and a cost wash.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tennisproha Avatar
tennisproha
8 months ago

The alarm subscription isn't required, but it is to get alerts.
So then it does require a subscription, given the main function of a security system is alerts.

They could've easily exposed all the sensors and cameras to Apple Home, giving us full control over some pretty good Matter over Thread sensors. But they chose to lock them behind a paywall.

This is why I'm glad Apple is planning to launch their own cameras and sensors.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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