The lynchpin of the new strategy appears to be an as-yet unnamed device LG has built for ADT coming to the market later this year. Although it does not yet have a name, ADT has already put up video of the new device, which boasts a sleek, black, futuristic form that owes more to designs by Apple than a building security company.
Automation and Security
“As broadband adoption continues to grow, there is a greater push for leveraging home automation within both the consumer and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) segments,” ADT said when it announced the news. “With innovative new user experiences driven by its platform, ADT can now address traditional monitored security, while also adding new smart security solutions for residential and business customers.”
In a first for the company, ADT will deliver the “Smart Security” system as an all-in-one security and home automation solution via its collaboration with LG. Planned for introduction later this year, the unnamed product will combine professional and video hosting with a security camera gateway solution. ADT said the product will serve the growing segment of consumers demanding the best in professional security monitoring as well as strong design features.
The device is designed to function as a plug-and-play solution that offers users the flexibility to monitor home conditions remotely — as with many other automation devices — and add the ADT service for additional . Building on LG advancements in the IoT, the device can also serve as a central hub for the smart home, enabling users to connect seamlessly to peripheral devices and control them through one centralized app.
“As LG smart technologies help drive the IoT, we see home security and professional monitoring as the connective tissue tying together the smart home,” said Byung-hoon Min, LG Senior Vice President and Head of its Convergence Audio-Video business. “By collaborating with a leader like ADT to create a unique connected home security product, we will deliver best-in-class product innovations and services to consumers.”
Opening the Ecosystem
ADT’s partnership with Nest, meanwhile, is geared toward expanding its offerings and opening up its automation ecosystem.
“We believe that bringing LG and Nest into our ecosystem allows ADT to help define the future of home and business security and automation for the millions of customers who rely on our people and systems every day,” Gursahaney said. “With the continued demand of consumers to leverage automation, we see this as a winning strategy.”
ADT also announced new enhancements to its Pulse platform that it said will enable more rapid application development, integration, and support of third parties, their services and devices. The enhancements will allow for greater focus and continuous improvements to the Pulse user experience on mobile, tablet and other Web-enabled devices.
Based on new APIs and technologies developed by ADT, the Pulse platform is now an open standards-based framework for the secure connected world. ADT said it would continue to work with previously announced and new partners, such as Ford Sync, Intel Security, iControl Networks, Life360, IF (formerly IFTTT) and Nest.
