4 ms·

A question more out of unfamiliarity more than anything, but is the market for at-home security cameras really that large? Then to overlap that with the market

by dvcc 10y ago

A question more out of unfamiliarity more than anything, but is the market for at-home security cameras really that large? Then to overlap that with the market that can afford to pay the $10+/month to support it, I would guess you run kind of low on customers? I mean I guess not since the product is coming to market -- I just personally don't know of anyone who uses one.

kevenwang0531 10y ago
DIY home security is definitely a large market. Every house in America has some form of subscription-based home security system mostly consisting of door sensors and a monitoring service. If home security startups can make a good-enough product that lets users monitor their own homes, they can charge a much smaller fee and still be more useful than companies like ADT.
- dvcc 10y ago
  Interesting is it more of a regional thing then? I've lived in the NE suburbs my whole life and really never ran into that many installations.
  - randallsquared 10y ago
    I see a lot of security system stickers on windows and doors, but I don't know anyone who actually has the subscription. Mostly the stickers are just marketing, I think.
mseebach 10y ago
I would not underestimate it. My immediate thought is "security moms" -- suburban mothers whose overarching priority is security (they came out pretty strongly for Bush in 2004, IIRC, which is when the name was coined). A similar demographic makes up a substantial segment of the SUV market. It's clearly marketed to a not-technically-skilled market (the magnet is pretty brilliant - tool-free installation, if you can find a bit of metal) which probably intersects the above market to a certain extend.
- knz 10y ago
  > It's clearly marketed to a not-technically-skilled market I'm not sure that is entirely true. I know of several people who work in IT and use them. Any decent outdoor IP camera is going to cost at least $100 and $10/month is worth the convenience for some people. My own experience with cameras was using a foscam IP camera as a baby monitor a few years ago. Setup was fine but the UI was horrible - very slow and filled with lag. > My immediate thought is "security moms" ... voted for Bush... substantial segment of the SUV market. I think the market extends beyond a stereotype. None of the other people I mentioned above voted for Bush or even have kids. Personally, I've been looking for an outdoor camera to deter the random kids we have had try to break into a hot tub in our yard and to deter someone breaking into a car parked outside. I don't have time these days to mess around with a self hosted solution so this is a potential option.

by dvcc 10y ago

kevenwang0531 10y ago

DIY home security is definitely a large market. Every house in America has some form of subscription-based home security system mostly consisting of door sensors and a monitoring service. If home security startups can make a good-enough product that lets users monitor their own homes, they can charge a much smaller fee and still be more useful than companies like ADT.

dvcc 10y ago
Interesting is it more of a regional thing then? I've lived in the NE suburbs my whole life and really never ran into that many installations.
- randallsquared 10y ago
  I see a lot of security system stickers on windows and doors, but I don't know anyone who actually has the subscription. Mostly the stickers are just marketing, I think.

mseebach 10y ago

I would not underestimate it. My immediate thought is "security moms" -- suburban mothers whose overarching priority is security (they came out pretty strongly for Bush in 2004, IIRC, which is when the name was coined). A similar demographic makes up a substantial segment of the SUV market. It's clearly marketed to a not-technically-skilled market (the magnet is pretty brilliant - tool-free installation, if you can find a bit of metal) which probably intersects the above market to a certain extend.

knz 10y ago
> It's clearly marketed to a not-technically-skilled market I'm not sure that is entirely true. I know of several people who work in IT and use them. Any decent outdoor IP camera is going to cost at least $100 and $10/month is worth the convenience for some people. My own experience with cameras was using a foscam IP camera as a baby monitor a few years ago. Setup was fine but the UI was horrible - very slow and filled with lag. > My immediate thought is "security moms" ... voted for Bush... substantial segment of the SUV market. I think the market extends beyond a stereotype. None of the other people I mentioned above voted for Bush or even have kids. Personally, I've been looking for an outdoor camera to deter the random kids we have had try to break into a hot tub in our yard and to deter someone breaking into a car parked outside. I don't have time these days to mess around with a self hosted solution so this is a potential option.