Setting your lights on timers is a time-tested way of deterring burglars while you’re away on vacation — but it’s an easy trick to see through for would-be intruders who do their homework.
Xchime, a new smart doorbell designed by former Motorola engineers, connects with a smart light bulb to automatically turn on the lights when strangers come knocking (or, rather, ringing). It also streams video to your smartphone to let you see who’s coming and going while you’re away.
“From our marketing research, we know that a lot of burglars ring the doorbell to check if the homeowner is home or not,” said Wireless Input Technology CEO Gary Bi.
Launched on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo on Wednesday morning with a $99 price tag, Xchime is far from the only video-enabled smart doorbell on the market. But the price, along with the device’s low latency and garage door opener functionality, sets the product apart from its competitors, Bi said.
The engineering team has also spent a lot of time on the form factor, developing what Bi says is one of the smallest smart doorbells on the market. After completing an initial prototype, the startup spent more than six months finding ways to make the product smaller without sacrificing functionality.
Xchime also uses patent-pending technology that allows it to withstand extreme temperatures, making it suited for midwestern climates. The device can function in temperatures as high as 150 degrees and as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which should cover even the coldest nights Chicago winters have to offer.
Bi said the Xchime is only the first among a number of smart home technology products under development by his company, including a full-fledged IoT home security system. The video doorbell is designed to work alongside that home security system or as a standalone product.
Co-founded in 2014 by Bi and fellow Motorola veterans Stephen Li and Ellie Sun, Wireless Input Technology has raised just under half a million dollars from multiple angel investors. The startup is based in the Greater Chicago Area.
Images via Xchime.
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