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Google’s smart devices telemetry opportunity for security

We are gradually handing over operations of manual tasks to more automated systems – is this a trend that the pandemic has accelerated what with more people being more conscious about reducing contact with surfaces? Maybe, maybe not.

Automation and yes, even voice navigation has a lot of appeal, and voice assistants now so readily available on our mobile devices, further fuelled our imagination when it came to what else we could enable with voice navigation tech.

After the car, the home seemed the next obvious choice, and one example of an automated ecosystem is the smart home where smart devices from speakers, to displays, thermostats, smoke detectors, to even cameras and door locks, are Internet-enabled and piping precious data in and out of the home network.

If we follow this train of thought, we could perhaps see the smart home security opportunity that emerges.

Google recognised this big time, and even seems to think that this opportunity is worth a 6.6-percent stake in smart security system provider, ADT.

According to Google’s blog, the Keyword, “Google will combine its Nest devices, services and technology with ADT’s leadership position providing security solutions for millions of homes and small businesses in the U.S.”

The partnership pairs more than 20,000 ADT professionals together with Nest’s portfolio of helpful home devices. The company’s network of thousands of professional technicians will be able to sell and install devices like Nest Cameras and Nest Hub Max, all powered by Google Assistant.

What’s the synergy here?

Well it’s a way to access the larger smart home security market; ADT claims it has over 6 million customers in the US alone. It is interesting to note that ADT also offers integration with a Google competitor, the Amazon Alexa Smart Home platform. This integration involves smart security camera solutions and 24/7 professional monitoring.

According to the same blog, Google sees its machine learning capability enhancing ADT’s security monitoring over time, and this will become the cornerstone of ADT’s smart home offering.

“The goal is to give customers fewer false alarms, more ways to receive alarm events, and better detection of potential incidents inside and around the home. It will also provide people with more helpful notifications that make everyday life more convenient, like package detection,” the blog stated.

Nest Aware, a service that keeps people informed about important events at home, will become available to ADT customers, as well.

Many industry observers recognise the large install base that Google Nest now has access to, thanks to their USD450 million stake. But, there could be something else at play here.

Closing the loop

Motorola Solutions is a provider of mission critical services via software, video, and analytics for the enterprise and public safety sector. With its long history of close collaboration with law enforcement agencies, Motorola Solution’s Senior VP of Technology, Paul Steinberg, said he recognises the potential to integrate a wider range of telemetry into software solutions.

This includes potential integrations with Motorola Solution’s command centre software platform for public safety agencies, CommandCentral, when devices like Google Nest’s enter the smart security market.

“When a call comes in (to a command centre) for example, there is more information than just the call, whether that is medical information, or information about the home, or video being fed in for a first responder to gain situational awareness and real-time intelligence,” Paul observed.

This process could be replicated for an enterprise work environment or even private institutions including schools, that comprise smart and automated devices including cameras, temperature scanners and more.

With Motorola Solutions having introduced a product portfolio that address public safety agencies and school environments, there is a greater opportunity to create a richer pool of data. By leveraging data from our homes and the wider community, emergency services and security functions can create a more cohesive response to security events.

“Real-time information is vitally important to improve safety for first responders and to ensure a more efficient and effective response.

“Having the right data at the right time also helps agencies to know how best to respond and what level of resources are needed. As a company that has worked with emergency services over many decades, we are keen to play our part in helping to mobilise that data for them,” Paul concluded.