Rogers Communications have launched a security system that lets home owners control appliances and thermostats remotely using their smartphones. The service was launched in Ontario on Wednesday by the vice-president and general manager of Rogers Smart Home Monitoring, Ian Pattinson.
Rogers launches home monitoring and automation system
Mr Pattinson said that his family used the system to arm security, turn off lights, automatically shut off devices such as a curling iron and adjust the thermostat in a single step when they leave home. He added that he was connected everywhere and he could make more adjustments using his iPhone when he was out of the house.
The technology allows the system at his cottage to send him text messages when the power is out or the temperature drops below 6 C. And he receives photos from a security camera whenever someone has been checking out the property. If an alarm goes off, he has a better idea of what's going on. This really gives the homeowner incredible control he said.
Erica and Anthony Antonelli are among the 750 Rogers employees and their families who have been using the system recently as part of a final test before launch. The 41 year old Anthony said that he was initially most interested in the security features, as he and Erica, 39, have a new four-month-old daughter, Luciana. But the family has found other uses for it.
Consumers are looking for solutions to enable their connected home seamlessly, reliably and securely said Ian Pattinson. With Smart Home Monitoring, they had reinvented home security with easy home automation and energy management providing Rogers customers with a truly connected home of the future he added.