LAS VEGAS—Home security and automation firm ADT has unveiled its first do-it-yourself (DIY) home security platform, providing an alternative to its professionally installed security systems. Blue by ADT is the company's newest product line, a series of individual home security components that users can install themselves and configure with options for professional monitoring and storage.
Blue by ADT is the result of ADT's 2019 acquisition of LifeShield, which specializes in DIY home security products, including cameras, sensors, and hubs. Blue is LifeShield's first fully integrated ADT product line.
Blue launches with three home security cameras available for $199 each: the Blue by ADT Indoor Camera, Outdoor Camera, and Doorbell Camera. All three cameras record 1080p video and incorporate motion sensors in addition to video recording. The Indoor and Doorbell cameras both feature speakers for two-way communication, and the Outdoor camera includes IP56 weather-resistance.
The cameras feature facial recognition, letting users create lists of known people the platform can identify. Custom motion-detection zones are also available on Blue, along with smart alerts. These features do not require a subscription to enable. The cameras also have SD card slots and include 24 hours of cloud video storage; 60-day cloud video storage is available for $2.99 per month per camera, or $12.99 for unlimited cameras at a location.
Besides the cameras, Blue by ADT also launches with a $49 Extender + Chime device. It's a Wi-Fi extender designed to give the Outdoor Camera greater range, and enables a wireless chime in conjunction with the Doorbell Camera.
All Blue devices integrate with multiple voice assistants and home automation systems, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. They're also compatible with Z-Wave devices, and support IFTTT. The Blue by ADT Indoor Camera even functions as an Alexa device on its own, providing access to the voice assistant with all of its home automation functions.
ADT is launching Blue with just the three cameras and the Wi-Fi extender, but more products are planned for Q2 2020 to round out the platform as a full DIY security suite. The company is working on both a standalone home security hub and a wall panel, along with additional sensors and other devices.