(RNN) - A new Amazon service gives access to your home to trusted people like parcel deliverers, dog walkers, friends and family.
Amazon sells Amazon Key as a way for you to ensure your Amazon Prime shipments are safely delivered - in other words, not stolen from the front porch - and you don't have to leave your key under the doormat.
The key to the remote access is a camera, which communicates with a smart lock wirelessly.
A courier who arrives for an in-home delivery scans the barcode, which is sent to the Amazon cloud. The cloud grants permission, and the camera starts recording.
You can arrange monitor deliveries live via a special app, which also informs you whenever someone locks or unlocks your door. You also can allow permanent and temporary access to people as needed.
Amazon Key is available for Amazon Prime members in selected areas for $249.99, and requires the installation of a cloud cam and smart lock.
People on Twitter had a field day dragging what they called a dystopian product ripe for abuses.
New service Amazon Key that allows couriers to open your front door to drop off packages. Sounds good to me. $AMZN pic.twitter.com/TyH52FBXsX
— Michael Bozzello (@michaelbozzello) October 25, 2017
Just learned about Amazon Key and this was the first thing I thought about pic.twitter.com/ki8h8Q1jtk
— Shikki Mizuki (@SonicDahMario) October 25, 2017
*Calls Customer Service*
Hi. I used the Amazon Key service and now my Xbox is missing. Also, they let my cat out. I’d like to cancel.
— Kevin Plantz (@KevinPlantz) October 25, 2017
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