Hive Home Check launches smart home plan for £25 a month
Centrica has launched a new plan for Hive owners who don’t want to pay for all the smart home devices upfront.
Called Hive Home Check, the service includes the Hive Camera, a Motion Sensor, two Contact Sensors and two Hive Active Light Cool to Warm White bulbs. All the devices are controllable via smartphone.
Customers can easily link products together – for example, a motion sensor which switches on a light automatically – through Hive Actions, as well as set schedules and receive notifications.
The service includes an ongoing warranty on all Hive products as well as access to premium features such as SMS notifications. Additional features in the pipeline include mimic mode where lights can simulate normal occupancy if you go away on holiday.
Hive Camera provides live streaming HD footage of the home straight to a smartphone. It can record activity, log all motion or sound detected, and features night vision. Its two-way audio feature means customers can play the sound of an alarm or dog barking if un-wanted activity is spotted, or talk to loved ones directly.
Hive Sensors can send alerts if doors or windows are opened, or motion detected, and can be linked with Hive Active Light bulbs to automatically switch them on or off. Hive Active Light bulbs can also be controlled remotely via smartphone, and can have a schedule set to come on and off when away, giving the impression of people at home.
Says Nina Bhatia, Managing Director, Centrica Connected Home: “Our customers tell us they want to check their homes and families are safe and well when they’re not there, so we’ve created Hive Home Check to make it easy to do just that. Hive Home Check offers a stress-free option to add that extra level of reassurance at an accessible monthly cost.”
Hive Home Check is available for purchase in the UK from the 12th July. For the first 12 months, it costs £24.99 a month with a Hive hub, or £21.99 for existing Hive customers who don’t require a new Hive hub. After 12 months, customers pay a service fee (currently £4.99) on a rolling monthly contract.
