With security cameras in place, you'll be able to observe remotely if the babysitter's doing her job. Fearful you left the toaster oven on or lights ablaze? If they're connected to a smart power switch, you can shut them down remotely. You can even unlock the front door without a key.
Wondering if your child came home after school? An automatic notification via SMS or email signals when the front door was opened.
On your way out of town and forgot to adjust the AC? There's a way to fix that remotely, too.
Verizon has fine-tuned the system with automation specialist 4Home (a Motorola company) and Schlage, which supplied the smart door locks and (Trane-branded) thermostat.
The latter also offers its own home-control system, Schlage LiNK, with monthly monitoring service priced a buck below Verizon's $9.99. But then you don't enjoy system monitoring on your FiOS-connected TV.
Verizon hasn't announced hardware pricing; however, Schlage's LiNK starter kit with a wireless keypad door lock, an Internet-connected "Bridge" (the brains of the system) and a light module goes for $299. A companion thermostat is $149; cameras are $189. Most components are wireless and user-installed.
TAKING IT TO XFINITY: Comcast's new Xfinity Home Security offering's primary mission is guarding the house, with police and fire-alarm protection (coming later in the Verizon system).
XHS also offers some home-control features - triggering lights, appliances, security cameras and a programmable thermostat. Here, you'll do the monitoring on both a wall-mounted color touch screen (which also serves up weather forecasts, sports scores and such) or via an iPhone or iPad, PC or Mac.
You can't unlock the door remotely, but XHS will alert you when a door's been opened.
