“Recent reports indicate that roughly 80 percent of households don’t own a home security or automation system, with major reasons being cost and complexity,” Mark Jackson, president of EchoStar Technologies, says.
To address that, EchoStar announced its new SAGE by Hughes security and smart home system that can be controlled from the TV and an app on iOS or Android devices. The SAGE Hub connects through any video source via HDMI to the TV. Touting its DIY nature, the company is also rolling out an “Easy Is Awesome” marketing campaign across the country to pitch the system.
Motion detected by a camera, motion sensor, or door/window sensor in the home triggers parallel notification alerts to the SAGE-connected TV and the user’s mobile devices. SAGE is said to help to avoid false alarms in non-emergency situations because customers can view camera feeds and review motion alerts.
The solution includes what EchoStar say is a first-of-its kind feature, MyLocal911. Touching a button from the SAGE mobile app, customers can initiate a call to the local emergency authorities at their home address, from anywhere in the continental U.S. where there is a mobile connection, even if they are in another town or state. SAGE also has multiple levels of encryption and data security for inside- and outside-the-home communications, according to the company.
EchoStar reports that the user interface is simple and overlays into the TV screen. It does not require the user to change video inputs, and includes a picture-in-picture window that allows customers to watch programming while managing the smart home system.
“The SAGE ecosystem currently offers a list of DIY devices and applications for control and management, including indoor and outdoor cameras, doorbell sensors, lights, light switches, dimmers, appliance modules, door locks, door/window sensors, thermostats, and motion sensors,” according to EchoStar.
The system is currently available to purchase at various price points here. The Premium Service includes cloud video storage and the MyLocal911 feature for an additional monthly fee.
