Once you get it set up (the app will guide you through the process, which involves connecting your lock to Wi-Fi using the August Connect bridge), you’ll be able to check your locks with commands like “Alexa, ask August if the front door is locked” or “Alexa, ask August to secure the lock”. The Alexa-poweredEcho first launched almost two years ago and it has grown from a seemingly tame voice-activated “smart” speaker to a home automation hub that features over 1400 “Skills”. “Amazon Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices have captivated consumers with the ability to integrate voice into the smart home”.
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“As the first smart lock to support Alexa-enabled devices such as Amazon Echo, we are giving consumers a whole new level of convenience with a hands-free way to control the front door”, said Jason Johnson, CEO of August Home Inc. “This marks the first announcement in an ongoing relationship we have with Amazon”. There are already 1,400 Alexa “skills”, or voice-driven capabilities that run on any Alexa-powered device, and Amazon runs a fund dedicated to Alexa that has invested in 16 startups so far. Second, you can’t use Alexa to unlock your door, because that would pose some security issues if someone could stand outside of your door or a window and just shout to open your door. Unveiled in October and shipped in April, the latest version of the August Home can now be controlled through an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple Watch, and 4th generation Apple TV. Once that’s done, you can easily control the locks using voice commands. The August Doorbell Cam lets consumers see and speak with visitors at the door, from anywhere, using a smartphone.
A few things worth noting: first, this is the first smart lock Alexa works with.
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iHome’s SmartPlug products are compatible with several leading IoT platforms including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Nest, Samsung SmartThings and Wink. Each device in the home will have a unique name, so one need only say, “Alexa, turn off the bedroom light” or “Alexa, turn on the living room fan” to operate that device. For more information visit August Works With. August also produces a digital door camera and a smart keypad. August Home Inc is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
