Nest Labs, makers of the smartphone-controlled Nest thermostat, today announced a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm.
The company promises that the new detector, called Nest Protect, will do more than “just sound a shrill alarm when there’s danger in your home.” The new alarms will actually speak to users and tell them where the danger is and what the problem is. The device gives a heads-up warning that users can silence just by waving their hand.
The technology builds on the Nest home thermostat which learns users preference for temperature and also offers suggestions on how to more efficiently heat and cool their homes.
The Nest Protect offers mobile notifications, which users can enable by connecting their free Nest account using Wi-Fi. The device will send messages to a smarpthone, alerting users of low-battery, and emergency alarm notifications.
Nest Protect is expected to be on sale in November at Amazon, Apple, Best Buy and The Home Depot for a suggested retail price of $129.00. It will be available in two versions – wired (120V) and battery-powered – and in two colors: white and black. Customers can pre-order the device now.
Nest Labs is part of a growing number of companies that provide ad-hoc solutions for controlling the home. AT&T’s Digital Life, Smart Things and Philips, among others, are also offering solutions to automate things like home security, door locks and lighting.