Kwikset, Lake Forest, Calif., introduced its latest Kevo upgrade, giving users the ability to send free and unlimited guest electronic keys (eKeys) to recipients, and use a scheduled eKey to set day and time constraints for regular house guests like babysitters, dog-walkers and contractors.

SmartHome Ventures announced the launch of PEQ (pronounced “peek”), the company's flagship service designed to bring “professional-grade” home automation to the everyday consumer. PEQ allows consumers to view, manage, and receive alerts from their homes through a single app on their smartphone, tablet or PC with no contract requirement.

If you want proof that home automation is “hot” right now, look no further than the latest news. Every week it seems another big “name” or mega corporation is announcing its entrance in the market. The latest is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., which just announced that it entered into an agreement to acquire SmartThings, the leading open platform for the smart home and the consumer Internet of Things.

Jim Johnson, executive vice president and general manager at Icontrol, released the following blog sharing the company’s thoughts on the addition of a DIY product targeting the consumer space.

There’s no denying it, the over 50 population is expanding rapidly, and the push is on for enjoyable, independent living.

Volutone, Simi Valley, Calif., a regional distributor in the southern California and Nevada territory and member of the PowerHouse Alliance, announced that effective July 1, 2014 the company is again a distributor for Sony Electronics to select A/V specialty retailers and custom installers in the southern California and Nevada regions.

Tri-Ed, Woodbury, N.Y., an independent security distributor, added Schlage to its access control line card. Schlage is a manufacturer of deadbolts, touchscreen keyless entry locks, keypad entry locks, doorknobs, levers, handlesets, hardware and accessories, cables, chains, and padlocks.

Linear LLC, Carlsbad, Calif., a provider of security and home automation, access control, and health and wellness announced the launch of its three-way Z-Wave smart switch, model WT00Z.

Yale Locks & Hardware announced its next generation of key-free Z-Wave® deadbolts with the introduction of new push button and touchscreen models.

Nest Labs Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., has released a new white paper sharing field data on the incidence and characteristics of carbon monoxide (CO) events detected by the Nest Protect: Smoke + Carbon Monoxide™ alarm.