New smart home intercom is actually a light bulb

‘Connected’ bulbs that can adjust color or be turned on remotely are getting trendier with smart home features.

Among the latest innovative models about to enter the market is the LightFreq Square2 bulb. It is very similar to Philips’ Hue for it can be controlled by a smartphone, able to change colors and can be controlled and programmed remotely. What makes it different from existing releases is that it has a microphone embedded into it allowing it to double as a home intercom and a speaker that streams music or voice recordings. The smart light bulb can give notifications and alarms as well.

The device has been successfully funded via an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign that raised $76,000. What this indicates is that for a relatively small investment – and the right technology – it is possible for competitors to make and develop products like or even surpassing the Hue.

One of the most interesting applications for the smart bulb as it relates to security is the ability for the bulb to act as a home intercom. While the designers typically see it as a way to communicate within the house, there is no reason why a bulb could not be used to communicate with someone at the door. Many homes have an exterior light mounted outside their front door; it would be a trivial task to use that as an outside intercom device.