Creating a One-Stop Security Shop

  • By Jamie Friedlander
  • Nov 01, 2014

Can you tell me about LiftMaster’s MyQ technology?

LiftMaster MyQ is proprietary technology that establishes a two-way connection between the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection or a wired Internet gateway. That allows us to control and monitor MyQ enabled devices, such as garage door openers or home lighting, from a smartphone. We developed MyQ several years ago to enable homeowners to have greater control over their lives by monitoring and controlling their garage door, and now with some additional partnerships that we have, MyQ is growing into some other areas as well, so we are really excited about the future.

How does the app work with the Nest learning thermostat?

It’s very cool technology that goes beyond the simple thermostat that’s in a house—it actually learns behaviors and helps you save energy. How Nest thermostats work with LiftMaster MyQ technology is that as you’re leaving your home and closing the garage door, you can set Nest to automatically go into “Away Mode,” which lowers or raises the temperature in your house, depending on what you want and what season it is. And then, when you come home and your garage door opens back up, it can switch back to “Home Mode.”

Basically, it allows consumers to have a little more control over their lives, and what’s interesting is that because Nest is a learning thermostat, once it starts understanding your patterns—not only your temperature usage, but your comings and goings—it can do even more for you in terms of personalization of the environment within your home. We’re extremely excited to be partnering with Nest. Nest was recently purchased by Google, so we’re excited not only about what Nest is right now, in terms of learning thermostats and smoke detectors, but also what they could become with Google’s involvement.

Why is this app important for home security in particular? How will it help homeowners feel secure and safe?

I think regardless of whether you’re using the LiftMaster MyQ app to control your garage door opener or your home lighting, or if you’re using Apple’s HomeKit when that gets developed, it’s all about having control over your environment. I think that as companies like Google and Apple enter this arena, they’re going to be delivering on what consumers want, which is a one-stop shop for home automation.

Yes, right now you can use your LiftMaster garage door opener and download the LiftMaster MyQ app and have a lot of great control over your home and your home’s number one access point, which is through your garage.

However, you might also have an app for your Whirpool washer and dryer. You might have an app for your Schlage lock. Wouldn’t it be nice to have all of those under the control of one master universal controller?

Can you discuss LiftMaster MyQ’s integration with Apple’s HomeKit?

We’re excited to be one of Apple’s initial partners in their HomeKit initiative which was announced right at the tail end of June. HomeKit is an effort to pull a variety of manufacturers—LiftMaster being one of them, as well as Mercedes Benz and a number of others, including building products companies— together to partner with Apple so consumers can control their home and achieve home automation through one app.

Do you think widespread adoption of this technology will happen in the next few years?

I do. I think the integration of a lot of manufacturers under these umbrellas, whether it is Google or Apple, is going to help with that. As far as LiftMaster goes, we’re seeing a dramatic jump in the number of our users that have embraced MyQ over the last couple of years that it has been available. Our dealers are getting more excited about it as interest in the connected home continues to rise.

Do you have any additional thoughts on the future of home integration and connectivity?

I think consumers will adopt more of this technology once it gets easier to use and they have more of that one stop “app” to control everything from a trusted source.

How do you think homeowners might feel safer or more secure with these apps?

I certainly think from LiftMaster’s standpoint, safety, security and peace of mind are really their ultimate goals not only when they buy a garage door opener from us, but also when they’re using home automation. It’s that ability to have those lights go on before you get home, or the ability to know who is coming and going to and from your house when you’re not there. And, it’s especially the ability to know that your house is closed, locked and safe and secure when you’re away. So that’s really the hallmark of LiftMaster and the hallmark of MyQ, and what we’re trying to do and deliver to our customers.

This article originally appeared in the November 2014 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • UL Solutions Launches Artificial Intelligence Safety Certification Services

    UL Solutions Inc., a global leader in safety science, today announced the launch of artificial intelligence (AI) safety certification services, enabling comprehensive assessments for evaluating the safety of AI-powered products. Read Now

  • ESA Announces Initiative to Introduce the SECURE Act in State Legislatures

    The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the national voice for the electronic security and life safety industry, has announced plans to introduce the SECURE Act in state legislatures across the country beginning in 2025. The proposal, known as Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures, provides a clear framework that allows candidates and elected officials to use campaign funds for professional security services. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Ransomware Attacks Rise for the First Time in Six Months

    Ransomware attacks have risen for the first time in six months, increasing by 28% month-on-month to 421 attacks. While overall attack volume remained below 500, the uptick may signal a renewed escalation heading into the year’s most active period for cyber criminals. Read Now

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”