Ecobee has announced a new partnership with Yale and August, enabling users to integrate their Wi-Fi-enabled smart locks into the Ecobee Smart Security system.
Ecobee users will be able to control Yale and August smart locks directly through the Ecobee app.
This integration is designed to work with Ecobee’s Smart Doorbell Camera, giving users the ability to lock and unlock their front door right from the live view screen in the Ecobee app – but sadly not from the Ecobee Thermostat, which also doubles up as a doorbell viewing screen.
For those who use Ecobee Smart Security, the locks can automatically secure the home when the system is armed, although disarming won’t unlock the door, and inputting your PIN in the lock won’t disable the security system.
However, users can quickly check lock statuses and manage entry remotely. This functionality supports Yale and August’s full range of Wi-Fi smart locks, including the popular Yale Assure Lock 2 and August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.
While this update enhances the overall ecosystem for Ecobee users, it comes at a costs; the smart lock control feature is only available to people coughing up for an Ecobee security plan, which starts at $5 per month or $50 per year.
The plan also provides 30 days of video storage for the Smart Doorbell Camera, offering an additional incentive for those already invested in the ecobee ecosystem.
While Ecobee continues to grow its ecosystem with smart thermostats, doorbell cameras, and now smart locks (with very slick looking kit, it has to be said), it’s worth noting that the likes of Ring and Eufy already offer similar features, without an extra fee.
Similarly, Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem offers compatibility between any smart locks and doorbells it supports, making this an industry standard feature for many smart home setups.
And Matter will (or at least should) mean cross brand compatibility for this sort of functionality too once it adds security cameras to the mix.
Ecobee is yet to come to the Matter party though, despite telling us it would be a few months back.
Yale and August are part of the Assa Abloy company although the US and Canadian residential smart locks business were acquired by Fortune Brands last year.
