Google Ramps up Smart Home Connected Device Effort to Slow Rise of Amazon’s Alexa

Home is where the connected devices are … at least that is how Google and ADT see it. In the time since they announced their long-term partnership in August 2020, the two companies have worked to build what ADT calls an “integrated home experience.”

The latest additions to ADT’s smart device lineup are doorbells, cameras and thermostats. These were announced on Tuesday (Nov. 9) during the security and smart home solution provider’s third-quarter earnings call, and are slated to roll out in early to mid-2022.

“Historically, our brand has been centered around in-home security,” ADT President and CEO Jim DeVries said during the call. “ADT is evolving to more of a lifestyle and consumer technology brand, a brand that will deliver safe, smart and sustainable solutions for our ADT customers by focusing on safety, automation and energy management.”

Delivering Security, Home Automation and Energy Management

These new additions come as Google continues to compete with Amazon in the connected home and voice tech space. As PYMNTS has reported, Amazon also continues to roll out applications and devices that work with its voice-powered assistant, Alexa. The latest additions include devices that will patrol the house and serve as a caregiver for older adults.

Also see: Amazon Leans on Alexa to Connect With ‘All Aspects of Consumers’ Lives’

During ADT’s earnings call, the company announced its plans to enter the residential solar market with the pending acquisition of Sunpro Solar, a provider of residential solar installation that has 56 locations in 22 states. The company noted that this would increase ADT’s total addressable market and expand its presence in the home.

“With over six million ADT customers, we will have the ability to now cross-sell and, importantly, the opportunity to bundle ADT packages for security, home automation and energy management,” DeVries said.

With the addition of these newly announced offerings, the ADT ecosystem will include monitoring services, smart entry, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, flood sensors, surveillance, smart lighting, smart doorbells, remote climate control, and solar and battery storage.

Adding the Google Logo to ADT Uniforms and Vehicles

When ADT and Google announced their partnership in 2020, they noted that it would bring together Google’s Nest hardware and services with ADT’s security, professional installation and monitoring to create an integrated secure home offering. At the same time, they announced that Google would invest $450 million to acquire a 6.6% ownership in ADT; that investment closed in September 2020.

Google had expanded its reach in the smart home device market in 2014 with its $3.2 billion acquisition of Nest Labs, a company devoted to reinventing thermostats, smoke alarms and similar devices. Google noted at the time that products that save energy and keep families safe were an important addition to its range of products and services.

During 2021, ADT added Google Nest Mini, Hub and Hub Max to its home automation product set, and began integrating them with its existing platforms. Customers with select ADT smart home security systems can now control them with voice when they add compatible Nest products.

Early next year, they will begin the first wave of joint branding, with ADT employee uniforms and fleet vehicles carrying the Google logo as well as ADT’s. Later in 2022, they will fully integrate the Google products with a next-generation ADT app and platform.

Unlocking New Functionality and Expanding Utility

During the earnings call, DeVries said the companies’ joint product and engineering teams are developing additional pro-install and DIY solutions that are to be released during the year.

“We are confident that our complete suite of innovative, integrated Google products, when combined with our next-generation app and technology platform, will be transformative for ADT, unlocking new functionality and expanding utility for our customers,” he added.