Barking like a dog to scare off experts

You usually use Amazon’s Alexa to play music, give weather forecasts and respond to other household requests. But Alexa just got a somewhat unusual skill: the ability to bark like a dog.

Alexa’s newfound resentment comes by way of Alexa Guard Plus, which is a new subscription service starting this week from Amazon to launch your Echo device in a home security system for $ 5 per month or $ 50 per year (after a free one month trial). Alexa Guard Plus may not be quite as sophisticated as a dedicated, targeted security system, but the new service can help you make better use of some of the smart devices you already own.

For general emergencies, Alexa Guard Plus gives you access to a 24/7 helpline so you can ask for help simply by saying, “Alexa, call for help.” That price will send your request to agents who can alert the right agencies or first responders.

In addition, Alexa Guard Plus can detect unusual sounds by using the microphones built into Amazon Echo devices and a be alert on your phone and even play a siren on command. With Guard Plus, Alexa’s audio detection can even detect specific sounds such as smoke alarms, glass breaks or carbon monoxide warnings and then ping over them. And in cases where an Echo hears an unusual sound, you can play back the recording or use the Drop In feature to listen in real time to what your Echo hears.

The true Alexa Guard Plus party trick is that when your Echo is connected to additional smart lights or security cameras and detects that you are not at home, Alexa can turn your lights on and off to make you look like you’re there, and even the sound of a barking dog to scare away potential intruders.

In addition to Alexa Guard Plus, however, there is a free version of Alexa Guard it has many of the advanced features available with a paid subscription, including first aid support, activity monitoring, and Alexa’s ability to bark or play a siren when motion or activity is detected.

For Call Protect Plus subscribers, Alexa Guard Plus is included for free. And in the future, Amazon says that Alexa Guard Plus will also be available through a number of home security partners, including Abode, Wise, Scout Alarm, and others.

So Alexa Guard Plus can be seen as another way for Amazon strengthens its monthly take. But at only $ 5 a month, the new security service can serve as a useful tool between nothing to protect your home and installing an expensive dedicated security system, especially for homeowners with multiple Echo devices.