Amazon Acquires Smart-Bell Company Ring
By Yiming Zhao 3/1/2018
Amazon announced that the company is purchasing Ring, a video-doorbell maker. This move enables Amazon to expand its home security and in-house delivery service.
Courtesy of Creative Commons
Ring’s video doorbell allows users to monitor their front door through an app on their phone. A built-in motion sensor will send alerts to the users’ phone when visitors arrive and will give users the option to see, hear or even talk to the visitors before they are allowed in. The company’s other products include security cameras, home alarms, and Wi-Fi-enabled smoke detectors and flood sensors.
Amazon purchased another video-doorbell maker Blink two months ago. It is believed that both purchases are to build on the new Amazon Key service, an app that allows Amazon Prime member to grant delivery people keyless entry to their home in order to avoid theft of delivery packages.
Ring is expected to be kept as an independent company. A company spokesperson said in a statement that “Ring is committed to our mission to reduce crime in neighborhoods by providing effective yet affordable home security tools. We’ll be able to achieve even more by partnering with an inventive, customer-centric company like Amazon.”