Lowe’s enter home security business
Lowe’s Iris brand smart home solution is gaining new security functionality for those customers willing to pay a monthly fee.
Beginning in the second quarter, customer who purchase Lowe’s Iris smart home product will have the option of purchasing professional monitoring services for $19.99. Through an agreement with United Central Control, Inc., Iris customers, who are either homeowners or renters, will have the ability for emergency responders to be dispatched to their homes in the event of an intrusion, smoke, carbon monoxide or panic alarms for an all-inclusive, month-to-month fee with no long-term contract required. Lowe’s said the enhancement demonstrates the company's focus on delivering value to consumers and represents a significant entry into the professional monitoring market.
"Many of our customers have been interested in the added peace of mind of 24/7 protection with live professionals available to help if problems occur, but only if it was as affordable and flexible as Iris is today," said Mick Koster, VP and general manager of Iris Home Systems. "By providing customers with Iris' easy-to-install, wireless DIY system combined with professional monitoring capabilities they can trust and afford, we are offering the most all-inclusive smart home solution available at the best value for both homeowners and renters alike. Whether our customers self-monitor or use our new professionally monitored service, Iris is the smart home system that evolves with you as your life changes and helps make your life easier."
The new service offers the ability to monitor and control the home, including notifications and calls to family and friends in the event of an alarm. Also included with Iris' professional monitoring service is the Iris cellular backup service, which provides connection when homeowners' broadband or WiFi goes down.
"The DIY professional monitoring space is a new market and one we believe will continue to grow, said Teresa Gonzalez, president of Unite Central Control (UCC). “UCC continues to be at the forefront of innovation within the professional monitoring industry. By partnering with a dynamic smart home market-leader in Iris, we are helping to grow the number of customers who can now take advantage of the benefits of a traditional alarm system coupled together with a smart home."
The new service will support the primary Iris security and safety devices already available for sale today with additional devices as they are added to the Works with Iris program. Current devices that will be monitored include: Iris contact sensors, Iris motion sensors, Iris keypads, Utilitech glass break sensors, Iris garage door controllers, First Alert smoke detectors, and First Alert smoke/CO detectors. A minimum of two monitored security devices will be required to help reduce false alarms and an Iris by Lowe's smart hub must be installed to support functionality.