Amazon is enhancing its Ring smart doorbells with a suite of new features. These include fire alerts, an app store, and a new line of Ring Sensors. The sensors are capable of detecting motion, door or window openings, glass breakage, and smoke. They can also monitor carbon monoxide levels, water leaks, temperature changes, and air quality. Additionally, these sensors allow users to control lighting and appliances connected to their smart home network.
A new app store within the Ring app will enable users to connect their cameras with third-party applications. Initially available only in the United States, users can expect to browse a selection of apps in the coming weeks. While Amazon did not detail specific apps, it indicated they would focus on small business operations and everyday household needs.
In response to the increasing frequency of fires in drought-affected regions, Amazon has partnered with the fire monitoring service Watch Duty. This integration will provide real-time updates and early warnings within the Ring app’s Neighbors section. Users can also share live updates from their Ring cameras to this community feed.
Notably, the newly launched devices support Amazon’s Sidewalk shared network. This feature creates a mesh network by using a small portion of bandwidth from Echo and Ring devices, allowing them to function even when outside the range of a home Wi-Fi router.
Amazon is also introducing an AI-based feature for Ring cameras. This system learns the everyday patterns of a property and alerts users to unusual activity. Called “AI Unusual Event Alerts,” the feature allows the camera to provide specific warnings when it detects a person based on location, actions, and clothing. For subscribers to Amazon’s Virtual Security Guard service, these warnings can trigger automatic intervention.
In recent weeks, the company has rolled out additional features that use video recognition to trigger Alexa responses and send personalized notifications based on a database of fifty recognizable faces.
Separately, Amazon has launched a new Ring Car Alarm with built-in GPS for vehicle monitoring.