Amazon Alexa’s home security features have been opened up to the whole developer community, letting alarm and camera manufacturers add the digital assistant’s functions to their products.
The news of Amazon’s move came with the release of their Security Panel Controller API for Alexa to the public on Dec. 13, allowing more companies to access the code required to let users control their home security systems with voice commands. These features currently are only available on certain models of alarms made by ADT, Honeywell, Abode, Scout, and the Amazon-owned Ring brand. It also currently only works in the U.S., but experts believe it is only a matter of time before it is opened up to the U.K. and beyond.
To use it, you’d have to download the relevant company’s skill from the Alexa App Store. This will then let you arm, disarm and check the status of your home security system. Depending on the device and company, there are infinite amount of ways this Alexa integration can be used.
