Liftmaster has been making a serious effort to enter the world of smart home accessories, with its MyQ bridge opening the door to HomeKit along with other platforms. Back in January, it announced the new Elite Series 8500W bundle that includes everything needed to transform your garage into a modern-day room of your home.
Along with support for HomeKit, this new bundle from Liftmaster also plays nice with some of the biggest names in the game including Nest, IFTTT, and Google Assistant. The bad news? Liftmaster is charging a monthly fee for access to some virtual assistant features…
Chamberlain (a partner of Liftmaster) first introduced HomeKit support for its MyQ openers back in October, and it was a welcome sight for those longing for fully integrated Siri control. After you’ve set up the MyQ bridge, you’re in the clear as far as fees if you’re an Apple user.
But those wanting to lean on Google Assistant or IFTTT will need to pony up $1 per month or $10 annually. According to previous reports, this was something Chamberlain had to do to offset the fees that accompany licensing these features. For some, the additional cash grab may be a non-starter. There are any number of smart home products on the market from lesser-known names that don’t require this up-charge, making this move feel all the more stingy.
Getting past the idea of paying for voice assistant access reveals one of the most intriguing garage door openers we’ve seen hit the market. Just recently Chamberlain introduced these wall-mounted garage door openers. Last year I installed one at my house and I’ve really enjoyed not seeing the traditional ceiling-mounted openers that are rather unsightly. Chamberlain’s ultra-quiet design is also a welcome addition, one that I’ve found to be far less noisy than traditional alternatives.
This Liftmaster bundle ships with all of the necessary equipment to get your setup off the ground. That includes the MyQ bridge, a wall-mounted panel with LCD display, and a typical garage door opener. One nice addition to the 2018 lineup is an included battery backup system that can run the opener even when a traditional power source is unavailable.
If you’re interested, the Elite series is just starting to pop-up at authorized retailers including Amazon. The official list price does vary by retailer, according to Chamberlain, but you can expect to pay around $550-$600.
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LiftMaster® Opens Up Possibilities with New Residential Wall-Mount Garage Door Opener
OAK BROOK, Ill., Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — 64% of Americans, according to a recent Business Insider survey, are unsatisfied with the amount of storage space in their home, while the U.S. Department of Energy reports that 25% of households with 2-car garages don’t have room to park cars in them. To help consumers gain more space in their garage and conquer clutter, LiftMaster®, the number one brand of professionally installed garage door openers, introduces the new LiftMaster 8500W DC Battery Backup Wall Mount Wi-Fi® Residential Garage Door Opener. The 8500W, which mounts alongside of the garage door rather than on the ceiling, features a space-saving design which opens up the garage ceiling for storage, as well as other possibilities.
“The new LiftMaster 8500W is unlike any other garage door opener,” said John Villanueva, Vice President and General Manager, Residential Access Solutions. “It not only helps solve the garage storage issue by freeing the ceiling to optimize space, but it’s also perfect for anyone who wants the latest in smart features for their home.”
In addition to its space-saving design, the 8500W offers homeowners unparalleled security and convenience. Built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to connect the opener to the MyQ® app, allowing users to receive alerts and open and close their garage door from anywhere with a smartphone or internet-connected device. Homeowners will also appreciate the included MyQ Remote LED Light (Model 827LM) – also controllable with the MyQ app – which can be placed anywhere in the garage, providing bright, maintenance-free illumination without having to change a light bulb. Additional MyQ Remote LED Lights can be used for an even brighter garage.
The 8500W comes standard with the convenient Smart Control Panel® (Model 880LMW) which features an LCD display showing time and temperature while offering other programming and adjustment options. A 3-Button Remote Control (Model 893MAX) which can operate up to three openers is also included. Additionally, the opener is compatible with Homelink®, available in select vehicles, which provides garage door operation integrated into the vehicle’s interior, eliminating the need for a remote control.
To maximize home security, the 8500W comes standard with an Automatic Garage Door Lock, a deadbolt which makes the garage door virtually impenetrable by automatically engaging every time the door closes. Other security features include Timer-to-Close, which can be set from the Smart Control Panel to automatically close the garage door after a preset amount of time, and Security+ 2.0® radio technology which sends a new code to open and close the door with every click of the remote control to prevent interception.
The new LiftMaster 8500W is powered by a high-performance DC motor which provides smooth operation and, when combined with the wall-mount design, minimizes noise and vibrations through the ceiling and interior walls. The new 8500W also includes integrated Battery Backup which powers the opener when the power is out to allow for operation and access until electricity is restored.
An important safety feature, LiftMaster 8500W’s Alert-to-Close functionality signals when a door is being closed by the MyQ app or the Timer-to-Close feature with audible and visual warnings occurring for 10 seconds before the door begins its downward travel. This feature complies with UL 325 codes for doors being closed without being in the “line of sight” and reinforces LiftMaster’s commitment to providing the safest garage door openers available. The opener also features a lifetime motor, five-year parts and one-year battery and accessories warranty.
For more information on the new LiftMaster 8500W and to locate a dealer, visit LiftMaster.com.
About LiftMaster
LiftMaster is the number one brand of professionally installed residential garage door openers, as well as a major manufacturer of commercial door operators, residential and commercial gate operators, telephone entry systems and related access control products. Driven by the access and security needs of the marketplace, LiftMaster’s expansive line of state-of-the-art residential and commercial products are designed to fit any lifestyle or application, providing the latest technology and innovations in safety, security and convenience. For inquiries on LiftMaster products, please visit LiftMaster.com.
About Chamberlain Group
Chamberlain Group (CGI) is a global leader in access solutions and products. As the corporate parent company to LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Merlin and Grifco, we design and engineer residential garage door openers, commercial door operators and gate entry systems. Our products are connected through our innovative MyQ technology which empowers users to control or monitor their entry points through smartphone access. We are also the parent company to Controlled Products Systems Group, the largest wholesale distributor of perimeter access control equipment in the U.S. and Systems, Inc., one of North America’s leading dock leveler manufacturers. For more information visit chamberlaingroup.com. Follow us on Facebook at ChamberlainGroupCGI, LinkedIn at Chamberlain_Grp(CGI) and Twitter at Chamberlain_Grp.
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