Looking to expand its already impressive portfolio of services, media giant Comcast announced this week it plans on adding a new Wi-Fi-enabled, indoor/outdoor security camera to its budding smart-home platform, Xfinity Home. Additionally, the company also said it would soon add voice command compatibility to Xfinity Home, allowing users to control a variety of features without having to fumble with a remote. Couple these two big changes with the fact it’s in the process of redesigning its existing smart-home hardware and it’s abundantly clear Comcast is banking on smart-home innovation to be a critical part of its business plan for the future.
Officially dubbed the xCam, Comcast’s new security camera features a weather-resistant seal, 109-degree field of view, and infrared night vision while producing high definition video. Moreover, Comcast plans to route the device’s Wi-Fi signal through the camera’s power source — instead of the camera itself — which should allow a significant boost in range of connection and the ability to place the camera wherever an owner pleases. Other options include around-the-clock video recording, the ability to review footage from up to 10 days prior, and live video-feed access from anywhere users can access their Xfinity Home app or portal.
“We want to give consumers the best of home automation and security in one, easy-to-use experience,” Xfinity Home senior vice president and general manager Daniel Herscovici said. “Our new camera features great connectivity, wide-angle views, and powerful night vision, delivering clear, high-quality footage. It also interacts with other IoT devices on our platform, like sensors and lights, so people can personalize and automate their connected home.”
Concerning its addition of voice controls, Comcast’s Xfinity Home X1 platform now allows users to say such prompts as, “Xfinity Home Arm” or “Xfinity Home Disarm” to verbally control the arming and disarming of their smart home system. Furthermore, saying something like, “Xfinity Home Cameras” brings a live feed of available security cameras right to an owner’s television or computer screen, giving them the ability to keep an eye on their home no matter where they are.
Available this summer, the xCam is compatible with any Xfinity Home system, however a specific price for the device was not shared at the time of the announcement.
