Amazon announced a new security camera named Cloud Cam which will help in their new delivery service called Amazon Key. The camera can also be used as a regular security camera for surveillance. Both the camera and the service is only available for Prime users.
Amazon Cloud Cam
The Amazon Cloud Cam can record 1080p videos at 30 frames per second. It also has a speaker and microphone to support two-way audio. Further, it has one micro USB port for power, one RGB LED for camera status and eight IR LEDs for night vision. The live stream from the camera can be viewed from Echo Show, Echo Spot, Fire TV, Fire Tablet and from the app available on Android and iOS . Users can even directly ask Alexa to display the live stream on the above mentioned media. The camera automatically starts recording when a motion is detected and uploads that video to AWS (Amazon Web Services) cloud.
The camera is priced at $119.99 and also comes in double pack and triple pack which will cost you $199.99 and $289.99 respectively. Sadly, the uploads to AWS is free only for 24 hours of recording. To extend it, you have to subscribe one of the plans mentioned below.
- Basic : upto 7 days at $6.99 per month / $69.99 per year
- Extended : upto 14 days at $9.99 per month / $99.99 per year
- Pro : upto 30 days at $19.99 per month / $199.99 per year
Amazon Key
This is a new delivery service which is possible with the help of the Amazon Cloud Cam and supported smart lock from manufacturers like Kwikset and Yale. The camera is connected to the lock via Zigbee. When a delivery person comes to your place with a package, they will scan the bar code on your package to verify it. After verification, the Cloud Cam inside your place starts recording and the delivery person will get a prompt on their phone to unlock the door. Once, they swipe the screen, your door unlocks and they will place your package inside and swipe again on their phone to lock the door. You will also get a notification along with a video recorded by the Cloud Cam.
The Amazon Key service will cost you $249.99 which comes with a single Cloud Cam, a smart lock and free installation. This service is only available in 37 cities in the US where Amazon logistics takes care of delivery. The pre-order for the service as well as the camera is open now and will be shipped by 8th November.
