Shark Tank Startup Guard Llama Mobile Panic Tested

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on May 16, 2017

A Shark Tank TV show appearance has attracted big attention for Guard Llama, a security startup touting a 'panic button' paired with mobile app that claims "911 help, 3X faster."

We bought one and tested it to see if the startup delivers on the concept and claims it touts.

** *** ****** ****** we *****:

  • * ****** ***** ********** showing *** ** *****
  • *********** / ****** ******** time ******
  • *** ******* *** *********
  • **** ******* ** *****
  • *****-***** *** ******
  • ***** ***** **. ******* 911
  • ******* *******

Product ********

***** ******* * ****** '***** button', ***** ********** ** the *** ** *** calls * ******* ********** station **** ** **** dispatches *********** ***** ** the ****. ***** ***** uses *** *** ******** of *** ****'* ***** and ****** ** **** responders, *** *** ***** Llama *** ****** '**** profile' *********** ********* ******* pictures, ******, ******, *** even '*********' *********** ** clue ********** ** ** where ** * **********/******** building ** ***** *** made.

*** **** ******* ***** is ** ******** ** the ***, *** ***, and * ************* ** what ******* **** *** button ** *******:


****** ***********

** ****** ***** ***** over *** ****** ** three **** ** ******* locations, **** ***** *** urban. ** *** **** runs, *** ****** ****** as *******, **** *** 'Guard ***** ********* *******' responding ** * ****** press ** **** **** 5 *******, *** ********* in * *******. ** turn, ***** ****** **** notified ** ***** *****'* dispatch ********* ** **** than *** ****** - 0:43 *******. ** ******** this ******* **** **** a ***** ****** ******** operator ****** *** ** our **** ******, *** we ********* ********** ** schedule * ***** ***.

**** ***** ***** ***** what *** '**** ****' for ******** *** **** an ***** ** ****, and **** ********* ** saying *** ****** ****** but **** **** ** seconds ** *******:

"***** ***** ********* ** unique *** *** *********** exchange ***** ** ******* providers **** ****** *** market, ** ***'* **** definitive **** **********. *** it's **** ** *** that ** **** *** resources *** ********** ** place ** ******** *** police ** **** **** 60 ******* ** **** scenarios."

** *** *******, **** was * ******** ******. In ********, ***** ***** did *** **** ** drop *** ***** ** our *******, *** **** the *** ****** *** app ****** *** ********.

Essentially ** ***

***** ***** ***** ******* attention ** *** ******, the **** ******** ** the ******** ** ***** in * ********** ***, and *** *** **** functionality ** *** ******* depends ** **. *** user's ***** **** ** carried ****** *** ***** of ***' **** *** the ****** ** ** responsive.

*** *** ****** ** a ******, ****** ****** that ** ****** ** the ****'* ********** *** BLE, ***** *** ***** contains *** *** ****, phone *****, *** **** information *********** ** *** monitoring *******.

** ***** ** ***** Llama's ***********, *** ******** and *********** ** *** service **** ******** *** phone **** ******* *******. Buying ***** ***** ***** is *** ****** *** the *******, *** ********** service ** ******** ** well.

******, *** ** ***** Llama's ******** *** ********** via *** ***, *** the *** ** *** necessarily ******. *******, ***** Llama ****** *** ***** 'benefit' ** *** *** is **** ******-******** *** button ** ****** *** less ******* **** ********* a ***** *** ******** an ***.

Product *** ******* ****

***** ***** ***** *** versions ** ***** ******: App ****, *** *** that ******** *** ******** fob ******.

** ***** ** *******, the ***-**** ******* ***** ~$3/month ** ~$**/ **** per ****, ***** *** fob ******* **** ~$*.**/ month ** ~$***/ ****.

***** ***** **** ****** bulk **** *****, ***** four ***-******** **** ******** are ******* ** * ~$300/year ****, ******** * volume ******** **** ********** plans ** **% ** the ****** ****.

What ******* ** *****For our test, Guard Llama ships a fob and instructions to download a smartphone app for either iPhone or Android devices. Once we opened the app, we registered our mobile phone number, paired the fob button using BLE, and built a user profile:

*** **** ******* ******** user-specific *********** **** ** shared **** ***** ****** when ** ***** ****** is *******, ********* * photo.***** **** ******** *******, we **** ******** ********* Contact, ******* ***********, *** 'Orders ** **********' ******* that *** **** ** shared **** ******.

***** ***** ******** *** this *********** *** ** seen *** **** ** their ********** *******:

"******** ********* *** *** all ** *** *********** that * **** ***** out ** ***** *******. We **** ********* ******* the ****'* *** *********** and ******* *** *-*-* center ******* ** ***** location ****** - *** monitoring ****** ****-********* **** information *** *** ******** agents."

False ***** ****** ***

** ****** ***** ******, the ***** ***** *** requires * ****** *** behind * ****** ****** button *****. *******, ****** five ******* ** ***** sent, *** '***** ***** Emergency *******' ***** *** user ** *** *** a '****** ***'. ** set ** *** ****** PIN ****** ******* *** configuration *****.

** *** ****, **** prompt ****** *** ****, but * '****** ******' button ** **** ********* in *** *** ** the **** ** ******:

** *** **** **** not '******' *** ****, the ***** ***** ********** center ******** ** ******* local ***********.

Duress ***

*** ******* *** ***** Llama ******-** ** *** process ** '****** ***', where ** * **** purposely ****** ** ********* code, *** ***/***** ****** acknowledges ** ** *******, but ***** ********** **********.

**** ****** ******* ** trigger *** ***** ** they *** ******* **** a ***** ****** **** threat ******* ** ***** has **** ****. *** user **** *** **** it **** **** **** have ******** *** *****, only ** ******** *** dispatch *******.

No ***-******* *** *****

* *** ********* ******* with ***** ***** ** the *** **** *** report ** ******** *** battery, *** ** * user ***** *** ** aware *** *** *** no ***** *** ***** otherwise ****** ** ***** work ******** ****** ******* it ** * ******** basis.

*** ******* *** *** has ******* * ***-******* alert ** ************* * big *****, ******* * user *** ******* ** emergency **** **** *** fob, **** ** **** it *** **** ** the ***** ******** ****. The ****'* ***** *** would ***** ****, *** the ***** ***** ******** to **** ** ***** might **** **** *** be **********, **** ******* a **** *** *** have.

****, *** ******** ******* is *** ***** ***********, and *** *** **** be ********. **** ***** Guard ***** ***** ****, the ******* ****:

"*** ****** *** * minimum *-* **** ******* life. ** *** ****** stops ******* ** *** time, ** **** ******* it *********** ** ** cost."

*** ***** ** ** quick/easy *** *** *** lack ** ******* *****. Guard ***** **** ** a ******** ******** ** needed, ******:

"*** **** *********** ****** will **** ******* * feature **** ****** ***** to *** *** ******* status ** ***** *******."

***** ***** **. ******* 911

*** **** ***** ***** Llama's *** ***** ** is ********* ****** ** call ********* ******** **** dialing *-*-*. ** *** test ******, * **** are ****** ** **** 911 (****, *****, '*********', 9, *, *, ****). It **** ***** * button ******* '****** ***' to ******** ***** *****.

**** *****, ***** ****** method ******** ***** *********** to **** ** ** operator, ******* ******** **. Like ***** *****, *-*-* operators ******** ******** **** if ** *********** ** verbally ******. *******, ***** Llama ****** * ****** exchange ** '********' *******, like ******** *** **** descriptions ***** *** *********** prepopulated **** *** ***. This *** *** ******** seconds *** * ******** call *** ***** ********** officers **** ******* **** descriptions ** ***** ** distress.

*********

*** *** ** ********* for *** *** ******* devices, *** *** *** is ********** **** ******** equipped **** ***.

Company *******

***** *** ******** ***** panic ****** **** ****, but ** ***** ****** leader ** *** ******* exists. **** *** ********* buzz ** * ** show ********** ****** **, Guard ***** ****** ** be ** ***** ************** brand ***** *********. ***** the ******* ** ***** a *******, ******* *********** is ************ ***** *** pricing ** *** ****** that **** ****** **** consider ****** *** ******* to ********** *** ***** plans **** ******* ********.

Competitor *********

***** ***** ***** *** buzz *** ** *** TV **** **********, **** are *** *** **** providers ** ***/***** ***** emergency ****** **** *******. Examples ***************** *******-***********. *************, ***** ***** differs ** ******** ******** alert ********** **** ***** dispatch, ***** ***** '***' based ******** **** **** defined ***** ******* ***** or ******* ***** ******** staff. **** ***** *****, those ******** **** **** a *** *******, ** are **** **** ** users ***** *****, *** may **** ********* ** setup, *******, *** ***** local **** *******.
***** ***** *****'****** ****' ********* **** Life ************* **** ****** *** ~$15/month, *** ** ******** users ** ******** *** speak **** ********* ** provide **** ******* *** location ***********. ***** ***** stores **** *********** ** the *** *** ************* sends ** ** ** dispatchers ******* ******* *** user ** ***** **** an ******** ** **** location *******.

Comments (5)

John Honovich

IPVM | 05/16/17 12:52pm

Rhodes is doing a series of test of startup / new entrants security products. For example, 2 weeks ago he tested Xandem, today's test of Guard Llama, and he is finishing up a test on Aura.

What other newer security companies or startups would like us / Brian to test?

Undisclosed Distributor #1

05/17/17 02:30am

Nice product, but is this for US operation only?

I take it the device can not yet operate outside the United States.

Is their plans to make a global solution?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #1 | 05/17/17 02:41am

The product is for US, with 'long term' expansion plans to other areas of the globe but no firm dates.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

05/17/17 12:18pm

Do they do their monitoring in house? or is there a central behind this?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 05/17/17 02:25pm

They are subcontracting all the monitoring to one station (they are mum on who it is), but it is proprietary so operators have access to the info in the app.

From an end-user point of view, there are no central station choices, just buying service from Guard Llama.

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

ASCMA / Monitronics Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Plan on May 22, 2019
Monitronics is entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, also called Ascent Capital Group Inc., aka ASCMA, aka Brinks Home Security,...
Amazon Ring Public Subsidy Program Aims To Dominate Residential Security on May 20, 2019
Amazon dominates market after market. Quitely, but increasingly, they are doing so in residential security, through a combination of significant...
Maglock Selection Guide on May 16, 2019
One of the most misunderstood yet valuable pieces of electrified hardware is the maglock. Few locks are stronger, but myths and confusion surround...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
China PRC Government New National Video Surveillance Standards on May 14, 2019
The People's Republic of China (PRC) government has released a new set of overarching standards for authorities to follow when they install video...
Mining Company Security Manager Interview on May 10, 2019
First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations...
10 Facial Recognition Providers Review (Secutech) on May 09, 2019
Adding to our 19 Facial Recognition Providers Profiled report from ISC West, IPVM focused on facial recognition technology for our Day 2 coverage...
Proxy Access Control Tested on May 09, 2019
Silicon Valley Access Startup Proxy raised $13.6 Million in May 2019, focusing on mobile physical access control. Beyond the fund raising, Proxy...
Aegis AI Gun Detection Video Analytics Startup on May 07, 2019
Gun detection analytic startups are increasing as the promise of AI and the threats of active shooters grow.  One company, Aegis AI, is being led...
Verkada Cloud VMS/Cameras Tested on May 02, 2019
Verkada is arguably the most ambitious video surveillance startup in many years. The company is developing their own cameras, their own VMS, their...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
ASCMA / Monitronics Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on May 22, 2019
Monitronics is entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, also called Ascent Capital Group Inc., aka ASCMA, aka Brinks Home Security,...
US Considers Sanctions Against Hikvision and Dahua on May 22, 2019
The US government is considering blacklisting "up to 5" PRC surveillance firms, including Hikvision and Dahua, Bloomberg reported, with human...
Dahua USA Celebrates 5 Years of Errors on May 21, 2019
Dahua USA is, in their own words, 'celebrating' 5 years in North America or as trade magazine SSN declared: Dahua Technology finds success in...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Covert Facial Recognition Using Axis and Amazon By NYTimes on May 20, 2019
What if you took a 33MP Axis camera covering one of the busiest parks in the US and ran Amazon Facial Recognition against it? That is what the...
Amazon Ring Public Subsidy Program Aims To Dominate Residential Security on May 20, 2019
Amazon dominates market after market. Quitely, but increasingly, they are doing so in residential security, through a combination of significant...
LifeSafety Power NetLink Vulnerabilities And Problematic Response on May 20, 2019
'Power supplies' are not devices that many think about when considering vulnerabilities but as more and more devices go 'online', the risks for...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Inside Look Into Scam Market Research on May 17, 2019
Scam market research has exploded over the last few years becoming the most commonly cited 'statistics' for most industries, despite there clearly...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact