HomeSeer's new cloud solution simplifies networking, enhances security for remote or local home automation control; provides multi-system dashboard for dealers.
By Julie Jacobson, April 24, 2014
HomeSeer home automation has been around since 1999, adding remote access later on with a Web server built into its HomeTroller line of controls. As we know, automation systems that use the home’s own Web servers for remote access and control can be tricky to configure at best, and insecure at worst, which is why many providers have gone to cloud-based systems.
HomeSeer now offers the cloud as an option for its systems, releasing in May the new myHomeSeer services that “greatly simplifies remote access” for users, the company says.
It’s not that the service adds features – say, geofencing – to HomeSeer’s existing feature set, but it does add convenience.
“The principal benefit for everyone is ease of setup, as there are no router or network settings to deal with,” says sales director Mark Colegrove. “You only need to register for an account and then log into that account for both Web access and mobile app access.”
Unlike some other services that can hinder device-response time because cloud access is required, HomeSeer’s solution will “automatically shift from a direct local connection to a cloud connection based on the location of the user,” says Colegrove.
The service is free for a single HomeSeer controller, but for those who want to access multiple controllers – individuals with more than one home, for example, or a dealer with multiple accounts – HomeSeer charges $24 per year for up to 5 accounts.
The benefit to dealers, according to Colegrove, is that they can enjoy a single dashboard for all of their customers.
“Multi-system and multi-user management is now enabled from one account,” he says. “This was not available before. This feature alone makes it much easier for dealers/partners to manage multiple systems.”
The service is expected to be available on May 1.
By Julie Jacobson, April 24, 2014
HomeSeer home automation has been around since 1999, adding remote access later on with a Web server built into its HomeTroller line of controls. As we know, automation systems that use the home’s own Web servers for remote access and control can be tricky to configure at best, and insecure at worst, which is why many providers have gone to cloud-based systems.
HomeSeer now offers the cloud as an option for its systems, releasing in May the new myHomeSeer services that “greatly simplifies remote access” for users, the company says.
It’s not that the service adds features – say, geofencing – to HomeSeer’s existing feature set, but it does add convenience.“The principal benefit for everyone is ease of setup, as there are no router or network settings to deal with,” says sales director Mark Colegrove. “You only need to register for an account and then log into that account for both Web access and mobile app access.”
Unlike some other services that can hinder device-response time because cloud access is required, HomeSeer’s solution will “automatically shift from a direct local connection to a cloud connection based on the location of the user,” says Colegrove.
The service is free for a single HomeSeer controller, but for those who want to access multiple controllers – individuals with more than one home, for example, or a dealer with multiple accounts – HomeSeer charges $24 per year for up to 5 accounts.
The benefit to dealers, according to Colegrove, is that they can enjoy a single dashboard for all of their customers.
“Multi-system and multi-user management is now enabled from one account,” he says. “This was not available before. This feature alone makes it much easier for dealers/partners to manage multiple systems.”
The service is expected to be available on May 1.
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