Nest finally goes beyond thermostats and cameras with a video doorbell

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Nest finally goes beyond thermostats and cameras with a video doorbell

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Matt Weinberger/Business Insider

Nest, Google's smart-home cousin company under the Alphabet umbrella, just announced Nest Hello, a smart video doorbell, shipping in the first quarter of 2018.

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Nest didn't immediately announce a price for the Hello.

The Nest Hello is designed to replace your home doorbell. When visitors ring the bell, you'll get an alert on your phone, and you'll be able to use the Nest app and the Hello's built-in camera to see them and talk to them.

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This new device will go head-to-head with competing products from companies like Ring and August, both of which offer similar devices. Nest says that its doorbell uses artificial intelligence capabilities - it can identify a person standing at your door, whether or not they actually ring the bell.

The Hello marks Nest's first brand-new product category since 2015, when it introduced the Nest Cam - a home security camera that was largely based on technology from Dropcam, a startup Nest bought for $555 million in 2014. Nest has previously come under scrutiny for what's perceived as its slow rate of releasing products.

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Nest also announced the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor, a $349 version of its high-end 4K security camera intended to be mounted on the outside of your home.

Earlier this summer, Nest launched the Thermostat E, a cheaper version of its flagship Smart Thermostat in a revamped casing.

CEO Marwan Fawaz said on stage that Nest's sales are actually accelerating. He claims that Nest shipped more products so far in 2017 than it did in 2015 and 2016, combined.