Spark moves into smart home security

Spark is moving into the home security business with its soon to be launched 'Morepork' smartphone based service.

Spark New Zealand has announced it is moving into the home security sector with the launch of its smartphone operated security system Morepork later this year.

Spark said Morepork represented a move into the rapidly growing "smart living" market, offering an alternative to traditional security systems. Morepork would allow customers to remotely monitor and control their home security using smartphones.

Newly appointed smart living general manager Gemma Croombs said Morepork was the first of a suite of new smart technology's that Spark was planning to launch.

"We're looking at how this market is developing globally and, as a digital services company, Spark naturally sits at the heart of a smart home because we have the mobile technology and the network to connect consumers to the things they love," she said.

"More than 70 per cent of our customers now own a smartphone and this is estimated to grow to around 80-90 percent within a few years. New Zealanders are using their smartphones as the "remote control for life", so it makes sense they will want to use an app to look after their homes."

The Consumer Electronics Association has estimated US sales of smart energy and smart security would reach around $574 million this year, up 23 per cent from 2014, making smart living one of the fastest growing consumer electronics categories globally.

'"We know we are living in a world where it's disrupt or be disrupted, so we're developing a range of smart, useful products that make life easier for our customers," Croombes said.

Spark said further details of the product would be available closer to its full commercial launch in the next few months.