The packaging, ads and marketing materials associated with Ring’s $399 Jobsite Security 5-Piece Starter Kit falsely represent to consumers that the kit, when used in conjunction with an internet connection and Ring’s Pro Subscription with “24/7 professional monitoring” will automatically call authorities when their motion sensors have been detected, alleged a class-action complaint Friday (docket 2:22-cv-06909) in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. “In fact, the Jobsite Security Kit and Pro Subscription are not capable of this advertised functionality,” it said. “Users must call authorities themselves” or instruct Ring to do so when prompted, said the complaint, naming Ring parent Amazon, plus Home Depot, which sold the kits, as co-defendants. Consumers were “effectively sold” a 911 speed dial to press when their motion sensors have been triggered, it said. “Ring advertises and misrepresents on its website that its Pro Subscription provides functionality that it knows it does not actually provide,” it said. The suit alleges violation of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, plus false advertising and unfair competition laws. Ring, Amazon and Home Depot didn’t comment Monday.

Smart home security brand Yale Home launched the Assure Lock 2 smart locks Thursday in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi models, with versions “coming soon” for compatibility with Z-Wave, SmartThings and Matter. All models are programmed using Yale’s Access app and work out of the box with Bluetooth and Apple HomeKit, Yale said. Yale's Wi-Fi Smart Modules, available in-box with the locks or sold separately, no longer require a Wi-Fi bridge, enabling easier setup, it said. Users can lock and unlock with the keypad and give unique entry codes to guests, service providers or other visitors, it said. The lock can be controlled via app using a smartphone or Apple Watch; a separate module is required for voice control, Yale said. Auto-Unlock, a Bluetooth-enabled feature, unlocks the door when the resident approaches. Yale’s DoorSense technology signals if a door is open or closed and locks the door when it closes. Prices range $159-$259.

Ecobee is piloting a program with San Diego Gas & Electric that’s designed to help prevent power outages caused by extreme weather, sustained high heat and natural disasters, said the smart home company Friday. In an emergency, eligible customers in SDG&E’s service territory will be notified when slight, temporary temperature adjustments are needed on their ecobee smart thermostats to reduce demand and help avoid an outage. When an energy emergency is called, customers will be notified on their mobile app and thermostat screens of an upcoming temperature adjustment of one to four degrees and how long it will last, Ecobee said. Customers can opt out of the program. The thermostat will “pre-cool the home” before the temperature adjustment occurs to help maintain comfort, said the company.

Samsung’s SmartThings expanded its partnership with Philips Hue with an integration that allows Galaxy users to sync their Philips Hue lights to “most” streaming services from their smartphone or tablet to create a particular mood, they said Thursday. The feature is available via the Hue Sync tab on the SmartThings app. Galaxy users can also control TVs and automated shades using SmartThings.

The global installed base of smart home devices will exceed 2 billion units this year, reported Omdia Monday. The smart home market is expected to have its second straight year of “softening growth” in 2022, “before an upward trajectory resumes in 2023,” it said. It blamed the downward trend on a “combination of factors,” including wage stagnation and a large decline in projected retail sales, it said: “Strong growth, on par with pre-pandemic levels, is expected to return starting in 2023, driven by increased demand in energy management solutions and the impending release of the Matter standard.” The impact of Matter is expected to be “more gradual than originally anticipated,” said Omdia. It forecast about 424 million Matter-capable devices will be shipped in 2023. Considering that devices like home appliances, security cameras and robot vacuums won’t be part of the release of Matter 1.0, “the initial impact will be slow,” it said.

Smart home security brand Arlo Technologies began the rollout this month of a targeted brand awareness campaign, themed “Protect Your Everything,” that focuses on “new household formation to drive incremental subscription revenue,” said CEO Matthew McRae on a Q2 earnings call Tuesday. Arlo expects the “bulk of the increase” in point-of-sale activity emanating from the campaign “to materialize in 2023,” said McRae, a former Vizio chief technology officer. Though Arlo products and services “regularly garner best-in-class accolades, the number one reason people don't buy Arlo products is because they have not heard of Arlo,” he said. Arlo also plans to expand the Arlo product portfolio “to address new segments and new markets,” he said. It’s debuting a new app, called Arlo Safe, to provide personal protection for an individual or entire family by offering “one-touch emergency health” and other safety features, he said. Arlo also plans to bow a new security system to bring “full sensor-based security functionality to our ecosystem of smart cameras,” he said. “Both of these provide significant opportunities to drive new subscriptions, and we expect these to be available before the end of the year.” Arlo is tracking macroeconomic trends closely, “and while they may portend a softness in consumer demand and higher execution risks in the second half of this year, our confidence in reaching our long-range-plan targets remains unchanged,” he said. Arlo revenue in Q2 was $119 million, up 21% year over year, and “well above the top end of our guidance,” said McRae. The company exited the quarter with $117 million in annualized recurring revenue from paid service accounts, up 67% from the 2021 quarter, he said.

Nice/Nortek Control announced a software upgrade due July 25 that’s designed to expand the scope of its surveillance platform. ELAN Control Systems 8.7.500 software enables the ELAN onboard network video recorder (NVR) to support up to eight channels with a single license when paired with a control extender, the company emailed Thursday. Integrators will be able to deploy solutions supporting up to 36 channels. Pairing software with multipurpose hardware provides “an easier path for future features” while reducing set up and installation time, said Jeff Shaw, Control Power/AV vice president-product management. Also included in the release is a lighting scheduler with 32 programmable periods for personalized lighting in any zone, the company said.

ADT introduced a program for residential customers that allows them to replace or add smart home security devices to their existing ADT systems, or troubleshoot device issues themselves, with remote video guidance from ADT tech support. ADT Virtual Assistance appointments are done via a customer’s smartphone; specialists guide customers through common tasks using two-way video, without having to schedule an in-home visit, the company said. ADT also expects to begin Virtual Assistance installation support for residential customers later this month. Customers will be able to order new devices by phone from ADT and have them shipped directly to their home. During a Virtual Assistance installation appointment, an ADT specialist provides step-by-step live video guidance to help customers replace or add new devices to their ADT smart home security system. The company had a pilot phase October-June with 4,000 customers and reported 440,000 fewer vehicle trips when Virtual Assistance was used as an alternative to a truck roll, which the company equated to nearly 8,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In the pilot phase, ADT Virtual Assistance had more than 40% of ADT’s service appointments; technicians helped customers “from virtually anywhere in the United States, working from the locations and times that fit their individual workstyles,” the company said. Virtual service appointments have 30-minute time windows and “can often be booked the same day,” the company said. Service time windows are 8 a.m.-11 p.m. EDT, Monday-Saturday, and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. When customers use virtual tech support, ADT waives the site assessment fee typically required for in-home technician visits, it said.

Sharp bowed a smart dishwasher with Alexa voice control, it said Thursday. Using voice commands, users can turn the dishwasher on, check the mode status, set a delay or wash zone and ask for remaining time, Sharp said. Setup is by barcode or through Zero Touch Setup, which ensures the dishwasher will arrive configured with home network settings users have saved in their Alexa account, it said. The SDW6767HS, due in stores this month, has a $999 retail price.

In-store experiences with smart home products are an important part of the buying process, said Parks Associates Thursday. "Information gathering online is common, but consumers feel that experiences in the store are more powerful in the final decision to buy the product," said analyst Jennifer Kent. Dealers and contractors can leverage interactions with consumers to establish expertise in smart home products and help win a sale, Kent said. "As consumers grapple with inflation, rising energy costs, and a shortage of essential items, smart home players need to meet consumers where they are to maintain growth," Kent said. "Consumers expect access to information, different price points to choose from, and options for delivery and installation."