As if we didn’t have enough smart home hub entrants, Peq appears poised to launched. Pronounced “peek”, we believe this newcomer is Best Buy’s answer to Lowe’s Iris and Staples Connect – a home automation solution we’ve been tracking since January. While sources originally indicated we’d see both a fee-free tier and subscription options, Peq marketing materials refer only to a monthly fee… which immediately puts it at a retail disadvantage compared to Staples, Wink, and SmartThings.
USE PĒQ FOR JUST $9.99 A MONTH. NO CONTRACT.
- Make your own custom rules to personalize your service
- Receive alerts via e-mail or text message
- Add additional devices anytime, no additional monthly fee
- Get ongoing updates to your apps and devices
- Stream live video and record & store videos and pictures
- Access pēq’s dedicated customer care team seven days a week
Unlike Revolv‘s extreme $299 hardware pricing, Peq has bundles starting at $120, that include a Netgear hub housing the requisite radios and likely local logic. And, taking a page from SmartThings book, Peq will offer up a variety of branded sensors… which is what a source indicates Best Buy is banking on.
Of course, if you’re home control curious, there’s really no need to wait on an unproven solution (saddled with ongoing fees)… as Wink, SmartThings, and Staples Connect all currently offer solutions under a hundred bucks. While we can’t actually recommend the unreliable, buggy Wink (which was temporarily suspended by Amazon), both SmartThings and Staples Connect are compelling, economical options… and we’re partial to Staples Connect, which strikes an admirable balance between functionality and usability.