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Amazon is acquiring Ring, the company that makes a range of WiFi-enabled home security products that include video doorbells, reports GeekWire. The two companies are expected to officially announce the acquisition news later this afternoon, but provided a statement to GeekWire.
"Ring is committed to our mission to reduce crime in neighborhoods by providing effective yet affordable home security tools to our neighbors that make a positive impact on our homes, our communities, and the world," a Ring spokesperson said in a statement. "We'll be able to achieve even more by partnering with an inventive, customer-centric company like Amazon. We look forward to being a part of the Amazon team as we work toward our vision for safer neighborhoods."
Many customers who own Ring products have been eagerly awaiting integration with Apple's HomeKit platform, and though Amazon is purchasing the company, Ring has this afternoon promised on Twitter that support is still coming. According to Ring, HomeKit support is being tested for Ring Pro and the Floodlight Cam, with the company promising to offer details on a release date following once testing is completed.
HomeKit support is a feature that Ring has been promising for some time. In October, for example, Ring said bringing HomeKit support to its Ring Pro and Floodlight Cam was an "ongoing project" but had "been delayed." Ring support for Amazon's Alexa products has been available for months now.
HomeKit is definitely still happening! We're testing HomeKit for the Ring Pro and the Floodlight Cam, and as soon as testing is completed, we'll update everyone with a release date. — Ring (@ring) February 27, 2018
Ring has been offering video doorbells for several years now, and recently expanded its product lineup with additional cameras and a new range of connected lights added to the Ring lineup through an acquisition of Mr. Beam.
Amazon has recently become interested in smart home-related companies, and back in December, purchased Blink, another company that offers home security cameras and video doorbells. Amazon has also released its own home security camera, the Cloud Cam.
Amazon's interest in smart home products stems from its Amazon Echo line of products, which offer Alexa integration and allow users to control their third-party smart home devices. Alexa works with many of the smart home products on the market today.
Top Rated Comments
I chose a Ring Pro simply because they are the industry leader on this thing and HomeKit support was a no-brainer for them to support, even though they had done nothing but say "It's coming!" for literally 2 years now.
Now that Amazon has them, am I *really* supposed to believe their crap still? They were on very thin ice with regards to delivering what their customers were asking for, and this honestly looks like it will be the final nail in the coffin for HomeKit support. They can say "I promise!" all they want but it's worth nothing at this point.