Free is teaming up with Qiara to offer a new connected security offer to make remote monitoring more accessible. On the program: five easy-to-install, low-cost pieces of equipment, with a no-obligation subscription.
After launching a Security Pack with the Freebox Delta a few years ago, Free is once again entering the world of remote surveillance by launching, this Tuesday, March 26, a new home automation security offer. To do this, the operator has teamed up with Qiara, a French start-up specializing in connected alarms, run by no less than a former general manager of Iliad – Xavier Niel has also invested 14 million euros last year. The apple never falls far from the tree, the company has adopted the codes that made Free the success and defines itself as “the Free of remote surveillance”.
The Internet service provider is attacking a market dominated by two major players Verisure and Homiris, which it intends to compete with. For him, the sector lacks transparency and innovation, and, above all, costs users far too much. Just to purchase the necessary equipment, you have to spend on average between 500 and 1,000 euros – it all depends on the quote and the client’s negotiating skills – to which must be added several hundred euros for installation, not to mention the remote monitoring subscription, which includes a commitment period. Result: only 10% of French homes are today equipped with a connected security solution. For the operator, however, it is “a growing need of the French”but “still reserved for a small number.” This is why it wants to democratize this equipment, by offering an offer at attractive prices in exclusive partnership with Qiara.
Qiara and Free: a shock partnership
The offer consists of a pack comprising five products:
- A door and window opening detector which, placed in a high traffic area, alerts at the slightest opening;
- A digital alarm activation keypad allowing you to control, activate and deactivate the alarm;
- A 105 decibel alarm siren, which is automatically triggered if an opening or movement is detected, with real-time notification. Little extra: in the event of a power or Internet outage, it can switch to the Sigfox cellular network to take over;
- A high definition camera (Full HD), powered by AI and equipped with a cover to obstruct its view, as well as a temperature and air quality sensor;
- A motion detector with infrared sensor with detection over a range of 6 meters, compatible with the presence of pets.
It is entirely possible to complete the pack with additional products, everything being modular. It will cost around 30 euros for the sensor and 100 euros for the camera. The equipment is designed to be both beautiful and discreet, and blends in quite well with the decor. Qiara focuses on simplicity of installation and ensures that it only takes fifteen minutes, while the equipment is delivered within forty-eight hours. Throughout the entire operation, the user is guided step by step using the application – available on Android and iOS – which also allows all devices to be managed.
Like other remote monitoring solutions, Qiara includes different protection functions. Thus, the Qiara 24/7 Protection service allows employees of the Sotel remote surveillance and security group – a company well known in the banking world – to access the camera in the event of an intrusion and to inform the police in real time. The SOS button, for its part, immediately connects the teams to remote monitoring.
Note that Qiara has chosen not to make its devices compatible with the Matter protocol, although it is pushed by big names in tech, such as Google, Apple and Amazon, but also Legrand, Schneider, Philips, Ikea, Somfy, Eve or well Samsung, for the sake of control. As a reminder, the latter is supposed to simplify the management and interactivity of connected objects on a daily basis by serving as a bridge between all equipment supporting this standard. This involves establishing interoperability between the different home automation and connected assistants – Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, etc. – and home automation platforms (see our article). “It’s a battle over which GAFA will have access to the customer in the end. We didn’t see any interest for us”, comments Qiara. The start-up is instead focusing on entirely in-house design and development. Qiara is in fact a French group, which took more than three years of research and development to bring its project to life. Moreover, four of the five pieces of equipment are manufactured in France. The choice not to include Matter is therefore double-edged, since it prevents the security system from being part of a broader home automation circuit, but guarantees data confidentiality.
Free and Qiara: an attractive and aggressive price list
Free being known for its aggressive pricing strategy, Qiara is aligned with this perspective, offering an attractive price list to attract the public. Thus, the Essential pack – compatible regardless of the operator – is billed at the price of 249 euros – Free subscribers benefit from a 20% reduction thanks to the partnership, which lowers the bill to 199 euros – and this, without engagement. This subscription, in addition to including the equipment, entitles you to a single access to the Qiara application, activation and deactivation of the system from it, live access to Full HD videos, receiving instant intrusion notifications, and day/night alarm activation mode.
Two other subscriptions complete the service:
- Qiara Plus (9.99 euros/month, or 7.99 euros/month for Freebox subscribers): in addition to Qiara Basic services, the Plus subscription offers unlimited shared access to loved ones, recording and downloading videos, intelligent person detection (AI) at the camera, a complete history of alerts and detected events, a backup connection in the event of a power or internet outage, and proactive battery changing.
- Qiara Ultra (19.99 euros/month or 15.99 euros/month for Freebox subscribers): in addition to the Basic and Plus services, it offers access to the emergency call button and the 24/7 remote monitoring service /7. With it, a security company will be alerted in real time in the event of an intrusion and will contact the police if necessary.
Free and Qiara intend to revolutionize the world of remote monitoring in the same way that the operator shook up the world of telecoms. The French start-up aims to equip one million homes by 2027.