abode Announces Updated Gen 2 Gateway; Adds 4G Cellular and Enhanced Z-Wave Connectivity
Palo Alto, CA – January 21, 2019 – abode systems, a leader in DIY smart home security, today announces the next iteration of the abode legacy gateway, the abode gen 2 gateway featuring optional 4G cellular backup connectivity and enhanced Z-Wave functionality through Z-Wave Plus.
In 2019, the new abode gen 2 gateway will be the abode hub shipped with all abode Essentials Starter Kits. Now with 4G cellular backup and an onboard Z-Wave 500 Series chip, the updated hub includes all the same features and functionality as the previous generation. Holding true to the original form factor, the abode gen 2 gateway looks identical to the previous generation and performs the same smart home and security functions abode customers love.
With Z-Wave 500 Series on-board, the abode gen 2 gateway is Z-Wave Plus certified and benefits from Z-Wave’s enhance security protocol, S2, which ensures the highest level of security and encryption currently available for connected smart home and security devices. With standard battery backup and optional 4G cellular backup, customers choosing abode to protect and manage their home can rest assured knowing their system will stay online and connected even in the event of a power or service outage.
“We’re announcing the new abode gateway to keep our product offerings as updated and future proof as possible,” said Chris Carney, abode co-founder & CEO. “Our new iota offering is Z-Wave Plus certified and contains 4G cellular backup and we wanted to ensure our Essentials Kit gateway offered the same features and benefits for those customers who love the form factor of the original gateway.”
The abode gen 2 gateway supports CUE, abode’s enhanced automation engine which customers use to create the abode automations and smart home rules that run their home the way they desire and tell the abode system how to react to specific events. The updated gateway supports all the same smart home integrations as the previous version including the newest integration with the Danalock V3 smart lock announced at CES 2019. Deep in-app support for solutions from Nest, ecobee, LifX, Philips HUE, First Alert, Linear and others due to included Z-Wave, Zigbee, and abodeRF connectivity are all supported by the updated version of the abode gateway. Additionally, the gen 2 gateway features voice control support through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
“abode will continue to support all abode systems running on the original gen 1 gateway as well as develop for and release new features for all abode home security system options,” added Carney. “On the HomeKit front, abode is 100% committed to bringing that functionality to users across our entire ecosystem of products and plan to have additional news to announce soon.”
abode customers interested in replacing their gen 1 gateway with the new gen 2 gateway will have the opportunity to buy the new model as a stand-alone product in 2019 for $199.00. Access to 4G cellular backup and Z-Wave 500 Series are only available through a hardware upgrade. In 2019, abode Essentials Kit pricing will be $279 for the basic plan, $299 for the CONNECT bundle, and $359 for the SECURE bundle.
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