$28 Million Funding for Doorbell Cam Startup
By: John Honovich, Published on Aug 21, 2015
Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.
Related Reports
Viisights Raises $10 Million, Behavior Analytics Company Profile
on Dec 09, 2019
Viisights, an Israeli AI analytics startup marketing "Behavioral Understanding Systems", announced $10 million Series A funding.
We spoke to...
Security Sales Course 2020 - Last Chance Save $50
on Dec 05, 2019
This sales course is customized for the current needs and challenges specific to professionals selling video surveillance and access control...
Ultinous European Analytics Startup Company Profile
on Dec 04, 2019
European analytics-startup Ultinous pitches customers to "Have your own video analysis service!"
We spoke to Ultinous to better understand their...
Access Startup Multi-Mount Aims To Streamline Reader Installs
on Dec 03, 2019
Startup Multi-Mount claims it makes installing access readers 'Fast', 'Secure,' and fit 'any size frame.' The company states its bracket 'fits most...
Freebie Face-Off: Rise of ~$30 Giveaways Examined
on Dec 02, 2019
The freebies are growing.
Verkada started this (see The Fastest Growing Video Surveillance Sales Organization Ever - Verkada) and now has given...
XNOR.ai Terminates Wyze
on Nov 27, 2019
Wyze has shocked the industry again - this time with a major setback. Just months ago, Wyze triumphantly added AI analytics to their ~$20 cameras,...
Vunetrix Health Monitoring Company Profile
on Nov 26, 2019
Vunetrix boasts that they make the integrators the 'HERO' by using Vunetrix's monitoring.
We spoke to Vunetrix to better understand their...
Wyze AI Analytics Tested - Beats Axis and Hikvision, Now Improved, Now Being Terminated
on Nov 25, 2019
When we originally tested Wyze's free person detection deep learning analytics in July 2019, they performed well, with few false alarms, but a long...
ISC East 2019 Show Report
on Nov 21, 2019
IPVM has finished in New York City covering both days of the ISC East 2019 show.
Here is a 6+ minute general walkthrough:
Inside this report,...
Top Manufacturers Gaining and Losing 2019
on Nov 18, 2019
2019 has been an explosive year for video surveillance, with the world's two largest manufacturers, Dahua and Hikvision, being sanctioned for human...
Most Recent Industry Reports
IP Camera Installability Shootout 2019 - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek
on Dec 09, 2019
What are the best and worst cameras to install? Which manufacturers make it the hardest or easiest to install their cameras?
We tested 35 total...
Viisights Raises $10 Million, Behavior Analytics Company Profile
on Dec 09, 2019
Viisights, an Israeli AI analytics startup marketing "Behavioral Understanding Systems", announced $10 million Series A funding.
We spoke to...
Disruptor Wyze Releases Undisruptive Smartlock
on Dec 06, 2019
While Wyze has disrupted the consumer IP camera market with ~$20 cameras, its entrance into smart locks is entirely undisruptive.
We have...
Bosch Budget 3000i Cameras Tested
on Dec 05, 2019
Bosch has long had a hole in its lineup for, as it describes, "competitively-priced cameras". Now, Bosch has released its 3000i series cameras...
Anixter Resisting Takeover From Competitor
on Dec 05, 2019
Mega distributor Anixter is going to be acquired but by whom?
Initially, Anixter planned to go private, being bought by a private equity firm....
Security Sales Course 2020 - Last Chance Save $50
on Dec 05, 2019
This sales course is customized for the current needs and challenges specific to professionals selling video surveillance and access control...
Ireland National Children's Hospital Chooses Hikvision End-to-End With Facial Recognition
on Dec 05, 2019
The world's most expensive hospital project ever, the New Children's Hospital in Ireland, has chosen an all-Hikvision surveillance system including...
AVTech ~$70 IP Cameras Tested Vs Dahua and Hikvision
on Dec 04, 2019
Taiwanese manufacturer Avtech is taking direct aim at low cost leaders Dahua and Hikvision with ~$70 starlight and white light illuminator...
Ultinous European Analytics Startup Company Profile
on Dec 04, 2019
European analytics-startup Ultinous pitches customers to "Have your own video analysis service!"
We spoke to Ultinous to better understand their...
Access Startup Multi-Mount Aims To Streamline Reader Installs
on Dec 03, 2019
Startup Multi-Mount claims it makes installing access readers 'Fast', 'Secure,' and fit 'any size frame.' The company states its bracket 'fits most...
Comments (16)
Tuli Dembitzer
I find it to be a great device that fits into the residential market at the right price point. The excitement of being able to see and talk to your visitors from virtually anywhere makes it an easy purchase at $200.
The thing that irks me about the Ring though is that there is no door release option directly built into the device... The only way to integrate with a door lock (as per their website) is through one of the following: LockState, Kisi, or Lockitron. These make you buy an electronic deadbolt... hmm.. not the best option. and the kicker? You need to change apps to release the door.
Had they added a contact closure on the rear, it would have allowed hope for a future modification to add the simple ability of uh... oh yeah! letting people into your house ;/
I don't know why all of the geniuses at this $100,000,000 evaluated company would miss skip out on this.
Oh well.. still a decent device to see who rings your bell when you're not home.
Create New Topic
Greg Cortina
Create New Topic
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
John, I agree with you that the company will have hard time keep up with the growth. This type of device looks like a cool idea at a glance. But I have a doubt on its practibility given the fact it is a stand alone device.
As you mentioned, this type of product would make much more sense to be part of a complete home automation solution.
I'm expecting an "open platform" (sounds familiar?? ;) gateway similar to OnHub for easy integration.
Create New Topic
Aaron Saks
When you press the button, it rings on the app. One issue I see is that is that with a traditional doorbell, you can hear it ringing in the house. If you don't hear it, you assume it is dead, and keep on knocking. Just hearing the small chime from the unit itself on the outside of the house may tip someone off that something isn't what it seems and that you are not at home....
Create New Topic
Jeff Dallmann
Hey Aaron, if the Ring is powered by your existing low voltage for your door bell, your existing chime will work the same as before. Also, Wink integration is coming next month, allowing one app to handle everything (for the most part). I don't have the Ring doorbell yet, but I think it appears to be a solid product.
Create New Topic
Jeff Dallmann
Ethan, Wink has problems IMO. I thought I would give Wink a try given the low price point, and while it has worked 95% of the time, it has certainly had some issues. I probably wouldn't recomend Wink at this point, unless I see some improvement in reliability.
Great concept, but not up to par with higher end solutions at this point.
Create New Topic
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Walk into bestbuy and theres 10 different brands/versions of these doorbell things.
Average person's doorbell isn't rung enough to spend $200 on this thing. Anyone who would have the money to spend $200 on a doorbell, would be better off having a professional video/intercom system installed so when the doorbell is rung, it is thru out the whole house, NOT tied to one persons phone, or phones at all.
And also, you have the gated communities with the guards or call boxes to let people thru the gate. I live in a gated community, and the guard has to let people in, so the doorbell I have is maybe rung 3 times a year at most.
Even if the thing has a separate "plug in chime"...just go to home depot and buy a $20 door bell system.
Wink system- been there done that...Spent a few hundred dollars to get the startup system with bulbs, etc and the nest thermostats...From day 1 it was problematic, slow to operate, and eventually, they screwed up on some security update which rendered the brain of the system useless (they pushed this update, and it screwed up every system out there to the point that they were sending people prepaid shipping boxes to have it repaired), so I got rid of it. Nest thermostats are still in use and only work half of the time in regards to being able to access with smartphone.
These startup compaines out there remind me of the tacky Tandy & X10/Powerhouse junk Radio Shack used to sell...garbage.
Create New Topic