‎Simplisafe should take smart home and interoperability more seriously. | SimpliSafe Support Home
 
chrismle's profile

Thursday, September 9th, 2021 2:29 AM

Simplisafe should take smart home and interoperability more seriously.

It's very puzzling to me that you have to pay for the privilege of being able to have your system work with Google Home, Alexa ect. Hell I even had to use Homebridge to get my system to work with Apple Homekit. Simplisafe's API already shows the state of contact sensors, motion sensors, and temperature sensors so the framework is there. But for stuff like their cameras, they don't work natively with any smart home ecosystem.

With the announcement of the new iot protocol Matter supported by Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung that promises interoperability, (meaning stuff like the Nest Thermostat will now natively support Apple Homekit for example) Simplisafe in comparison only has bare minimum smart home support which is to arm your system with Google Home or Alexa.

I don't expect Simplisafe to suddenly start supporting 3rd party devices through their base station. But I do expect that say my Nest Thermostat can see the temperature reading coming from my Simplisafe temperature sensor and thus change the temperature setting to the house or even my Google Nest Hub, Alexa Show, or Apple TV automatically displaying the Simplisafe Camera feed when it detects motion. All in a single smart home app.

I understand that Simplisafe first and foremost is a security company and fancy features like that aren't a big priority. But when even ADT says they're going to participate in Matter while already supporting Google Home, Alexa, and IFTTT, I can't help but feel that Simplisafe is going to fall behind even harder than they already are now when it comes to smart home integration. Still no Homekit support? Cmon! If it's an Apple royalty issue then support Matter!

113 Messages

3 years ago

I understand that many customers look forward to this integration, but adding all of that complexity is more of a turn-OFF for me.  First, I don't have a bunch of stuff to even work with it so the added features would be pointless for me.  And it opens the door for other security issues.  It's almost like SS needs to create an add-on module that can be the brains of the "smart home" integration and communicate between the systems.  So if a customer wants to go that route they can purchase the upgrade, otherwise it's the standard system.  Personally, I don't think SS as a company is big enough or far enough along to have the support for that kind of development and support.  
One thing I'm confused about- why would you want the SS sensor to override your Nest Thermostat setpoint?  I would imagine that the sensor in your thermostat is more accurate.
Also, I wouldn't throw ADT out there as a good example for anything.

2 Messages

SS smart home integration is opt in so you don't need to buy a separate module to connect to a smart home ecosystem. Just log in with your Google or Amazon account in the SS app and SS will connect their API to them. The thermostat idea was just an example but my main point is that all their sensors have Iot capability but SS doesn't do anything with it. Captain11's comment is honestly what I was trying to get at in functionality. I don't want my assistant to be able to disarm my system. But I do want something more than just "arm my system".

Captain

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5.9K Messages

3 years ago

Agree, hondaman88, connectivity to 3rd party devices does open the door to potential security issues and a level of complexity that would be challenging to many customers and for SS support itself.  (And of course your comments about ADT)

There is, however, some middleground, that would provide more functionality and minimize any security risk. For full disclosure, this "middleground" also would personally meet my requirements for interconnectivity so, yes, I am very biased on the topic.  If a SS3 security system is in an alarm state, than provide the ablility to transfer a flag outside of the system to another 3rd party. That's it. A flag that says "Hey, I'm in an alarm state and I am telling you".  One way, no direct connection to SS.  With that, you can then set up an action or a routine in the 3rd party environment.

In English: if my SS3 system detects an intrusion, or hazard (fire for example) tell my Amazon Echo devices and then the Echo turns on my nine IoT light swtiches and wall sockets to light up my house inside and out.  Back to those security concerns, I don't want Alexa, Google Assistant or anything else have any capability of turning off my system.

113 Messages

3 years ago

Didn't someone just complain about the need to be more constructive with the posts?
Given that SS is on the gen 3 system and getting cameras out, I deduced that their focus has been on other things.  I don't work there and don't claim to know what's going on behind closed doors, but with the struggles they have had with customer services calls (based on the number of complaints in the forum), the upcoming center that Captain first referenced and that they haven't shown interest in it so far is where I based my statement.  
Where did you get "3 people in someone's garage using doors over sawhorses for desks"?  

"comments that provide no benefit to the OP or the person making the reply."

702 Messages

3 years ago

There are multiple DIY security companies that have been around the same amount of time as SimpliSafe that offer the kind of integrations that @chrismile2001 is asking for. Suggesting this functionality is too difficult to implement or can't be done securely  by a company with 800+ employees is ludicrous. It's not like SimpliSafe is 3 people in someone's garage using doors over sawhorses for desks.

Edit: I, for one, would also like to see this kind of functionality and more specifically the ability to use IFTTT with SimpliSafe. (Like I've mentioned in another thread, something like my phone detects I'm connected to my home Wi-Fi and unlocks/disarms. Or detects I'm out of range and locks/arms.)

9 Messages

2 years ago

SimpliSafe basically was engaged in false advertising when I purchased my system stating it supported HomeKit, but then changed their minds. I have Abode (a far superior product) in my 2nd home and will be replacing my current system with Abode if Matter is not adopted rapidly by SimpliSafe. 

2 Messages

2 years ago

unfortunately they will likely only

prioritize that development of HomeKit/Matter support when they find themselves losing market share to other vendors that do.  So vote with your wallet folks.  I have 2 SS smart locks in my cart that I won’t buy now due to the lack of commitment to HomeKit support.  

4 Messages

2 years ago

The lack of HomeKit support has me an active mode for a replacement system, which may be a lot easier with Matter support. Simplisafe has baked-in a lost customer.

983 Messages

1 year ago

The whole idea of simplisafe being in the smart home thing is not for me as I just want a security system and cameras and that's it and the reason I got simplisafe as it's simple and I don't even have alexa doing anything with simplisafe. I believe that being a diy system if they get to involved with smart home integration they will have more problems as now they have to teach the employees all this mess and trying to tell people how to fix it over the phone, I don't know but smart home not for me to be honest 

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