Source: Charter in Talks With Ring for Monitored DIY Home Security Service
According to a since deleted document posted to Reddit, Charter may be looking to offer a DIY home security system powered by Ring.
There is no shortage of DIY smart home security systems out there. Not only are there new DIY security start-ups popping up left and right, but you also have offerings from smart home companies, MSOs, e-retailers, search engines and more. You name it, they probably have their own DIY security system.
Charter Communications, which already has a home security business courtesy of its deals for Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, is reportedly in talks with Ring, Arlo and Nest for its own DIY offering, according to Light Reading.
More specifically, according to a Reddit post (that has since been taken down) by a source that has not been independently verified Light Reading, Charter is developing a self-installed, professionally monitored home security service that is “predicated on a deal with Ring.”
Dubbed “Spectrum Home Security powered by Ring,” the company would charge a $190 up-front cost for equipment, feature DIY installation and carry a $10 per month monitoring solution fee, according to the Reddit post.
Charter would receive a revenue share of both the monthly service fee and a percentage of the hardware sold. Charter would “own the customer” via the app that controls and monitors the devices, as well as the billing relationship, the document notes.
Light Reading notes it is unclear if the name is a place-holder brand should Ring become a lead tech/product partner for Charter’s purported new smart home offering.
The deleted document in question that briefly appeared on Reddit.
Arlo could be a potential alternative with its recently announced DIY home security system. Google’s Nest is already well-established and features various partnerships with professional installers.
Charter is no doubt building a solution to compete with Comcast’s ever expanding Xfinity home security and automation platform.
Comcast ended Q3 2018 with about 1.27 million Xfinity Home subscriptions after adding approximately 42,000 in the period, according to Light Reading.
Security pros, are you worried about another MSO potentially releasing it’s own home security offering? Let us know why or why not in the comments below!
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About the Author
Steve Karantzoulidis, Web/Senior Editor
Steven A. Karantzoulidis is the Web Editor for Security Sales & Integration. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Communication and has a background in Film, A/V and Social Media.
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