This new video doorbell lets a live security agent watch your front door
SimpliSafe has launched the Video Doorbell Series 2, which pairs AI detection with human monitoring agents who can view and respond to suspicious activity at your door in real time. The camera costs $199.99, while the monitoring feature requires a plan starting at $49.99 a month.
Home security company SimpliSafe has released a new product, the Video Doorbell Series 2, which combines artificial intelligence analysis with live human agent response. The device is now available for $199.99.
The camera relies on a mix of on-device AI, cloud-based computer vision, and facial recognition to spot suspicious activity at the front door. When a potential threat is detected, a SimpliSafe monitoring agent can access the camera feed, view what's happening, speak to whoever is at the door, and attempt to deter intruders or package thieves.
This capability, called Active Guard, was previously available on the company's indoor and outdoor cameras and has now been extended to its doorbell camera. The feature must be opted into by the user, and agents can only view live footage when the system is armed and an alert has been triggered. Using it requires a SimpliSafe Pro or Plus monitoring plan, priced from $49.99 a month.
The doorbell itself offers 2K resolution, 10x zoom, a 150-degree field of view, two-way audio, a built-in siren, and smart alerts for people and packages. It's a wired device that requires a SimpliSafe base station and keypad, and it can also run in a self-monitored mode with video recording without a subscription.
The company states that footage is encrypted both at rest and in transit, though not end-to-end, and that it does not share footage with law enforcement unless legally required. Color-coded LED lights on the device indicate whether a monitoring agent or the homeowner is speaking.
Competitor Ring offers a similar live-agent service called Virtual Guard, priced at $99 a month.
