Amazon’s Alexa Guard Plus subscription service is now available in the US. The company unveiled Guard Plus back in September as a paid option for those who want the extra features that come with the premium version of its free Guard service. While the basic Guard feature can already turn Echo smart speakers and displays into home security devices, its premium version takes things a step further by giving subscribers hands-free access to emergency services and giving Alexa the power to deter intruders from breaking in.
How do you ask for Emergency help with Alexa?
Guard Plus gives you 24/7 access to an Emergency Helpline you can call with just your voice. Say, “Alexa, call for help” to speak with trained agents who can request the dispatch of emergency responders — such as police, the fire department, or an ambulance — based on information you provide on the call.
How does Guard Plus notify you about potential emergencies?
If Alexa detects sounds that could be an intruder while you’re away from home — like footsteps, a door closing, or glass breaking — she can send you a Smart Alert mobile notification and play a siren on your Echo. Alexa can also notify you about the sound of smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms.
From a Smart Alert, you can play back what Alexa heard or Drop In for live audio. You can then call the Emergency Helpline to request emergency services or forward the alert to a supported security provider.
How do the Smart alerts work with connected devices?
Guard Plus is even better with connected smart lights and select outdoor-facing cameras. While you’re away, Alexa can turn on and off smart lights you select to make it look like someone is home and, when your camera detects motion outside, Alexa can play the sound of a dog barking from your Echo to help scare off potential intruders.
How much does Guard Plus cost?
Guard Plus is included with Ring Protect Plus at no additional cost. Protect Plus subscribers need to link their Ring and Amazon accounts in the Ring app or on Ring.com and complete setup in the Alexa app to access Guard Plus benefits. And, starting next year, Guard Plus will also be available through partners including Abode, Scout Alarm, Resideo, A3 Smart Home, and Wyze.
Partners
Everyone can try Guard Plus for a month without having to pay for anything, but it will cost $5 a month or $49 a year after the trial period ends.
In addition to Guard Plus, Amazon has also rolled out a couple of other Alexa features. First is Energy Dashboard, which can tell users how much energy their Alexa-connected smart home devices consume. The other is Proactive Hunches, which as its name implies, allows Alexa to act based on a user’s previous actions without asking for permission. Alexa could, for instance, adjust the thermostat, turn down the water heater or turn on the robot vacuum if the user is away from home. Both new features are now also live in the US and accessible through the Alexa app.
