If you have an Ecobee smart doorbell camera, you should now be able to let someone in more easily by tapping “unlock” directly from the live view in the Ecobee app instead of accessing your smart lock app. if you use Ecobee's smart security systemYou can also lock the door when arming the system. But it will not unlock when you deactivate the system and entering your PIN code into the door lock will not turn off the system.
The new integration will work with any Yale or August Wi-Fi smart lock that uses the Yale or August app (Fortune Brands owns both companies). This includes my top pick for a smart lock, the Yale Assure 2 (with Wi-Fi), plus the August Wi-Fi smart lock and the new Yale Approach lock.
The door locking feature requires a ecobee subscription planwhich starts at $5 a month or $50 a year and includes 30 days of video storage for the doorbell camera. Once you link your Ecobee and Yale or August accounts, you will be able to control the door lock in the Ecobee app and link it to the Ecobee security system. (Unfortunately, while you can watch a live feed from your doorbell on an Ecobee thermostat, you won't be able to control the lock directly on the thermostat.)
This partnership is a nice upgrade for Ecobee users and makes the platform more viable as a complete smart home system. In addition to the video doorbell and smart thermostat, Ecobee has an indoor camera, and its smart security system (which can use your thermostat as a hub) works with Ecobee's contact and motion sensors. But it's a shame that the new integration is locked after a subscription.
Several companies already offer the ability to lock or unlock the door from a live view of the doorbell camera for free. Ring doorbells can do this with the Schlage Encode smart lock, and any Apple Home-compatible smart lock can work with any Apple Home-compatible doorbell to enable this in the Home app. Companies like Eufy and Aqara, which make smart locks and doorbell cameras, have it too.
Matter should eventually be able to provide this type of cross-manufacturer integration for free when (or if) cameras become part of the specification. However, despite initial promises of Matter compatibility, Ecobee has not updated any of its products to support the new smart home standard.
For hardware companies that are moving toward subscription services to ensure more recurring revenue, it's easy to see why Matter and its commoditization potential may not seem as attractive. Ecobee already works with all major smart home platforms, including Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings, Alexa, and Google Home, making Matter's interoperability feature less attractive.
Ultimately, proprietary partnerships like this, which rely on cloud-based connections and specific hardware, may be less attractive to users than Matter, with its promise of local control and broader interoperability. But until Matter becomes seamless and easy to use, paying $5 a month to get things going has some appeal.
