Blink: Difference between revisions
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'''Blink''' is a manufacturer of home security cameras owned by [[Amazon]]. The company was acquired from Immedia Semiconductor as a subsidiary in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-buys-smart-doorbell-and-camera-maker-blink|title=Amazon buys smart doorbell and camera maker Blink|first=Joe|last=Maring|date=2017-12-22|work=Android Central|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103194309/https://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-buys-smart-doorbell-and-camera-maker-blink|archive-date=2023-11-03|url-status=live}}</ref> | '''Blink''' is a manufacturer of home security cameras owned by [[Amazon]]. The company was acquired from Immedia Semiconductor as a subsidiary in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-buys-smart-doorbell-and-camera-maker-blink|title=Amazon buys smart doorbell and camera maker Blink|first=Joe|last=Maring|date=2017-12-22|work=Android Central|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103194309/https://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-buys-smart-doorbell-and-camera-maker-blink|archive-date=2023-11-03|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
====Freedom==== | ====Freedom==== | ||
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In 2017, Blink cameras were free to use, though an optional "Blink Seecurity" system could be bought for $9.99/m or $19.99/m depending on the monitoring option.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/1/2/14052292/blink-camera-seecurity-price-date|title=Little Blink camera expands into whole-home security, for a price|first=Thomas|last=Ricker|work=TheVerge|date=2017-01-02|access-date=2025-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208013316/https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/1/2/14052292/blink-camera-seecurity-price-date|archive-date=2024-12-08|url-status=live}}</ref> The $90 million acquisition by Amazon was mostly in part to obtain the “energy-efficient processor technology” and to differentiate from other smart home companies with 2-year battery life for cameras.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/amazons-blink-unveils-new-security-camera-proprietary-chip-enables-two-year-battery-life/|title=Amazon’s Blink unveils new security camera with ‘exclusive’ chip and two-year battery life|first=Todd|last=Bishop|date=2019-05-09|access-date=2025-03-17|work=GeekWire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306095929/https://www.geekwire.com/2019/amazons-blink-unveils-new-security-camera-proprietary-chip-enables-two-year-battery-life/|archive-date=2024-03-06|url-status=live}}</ref> | In 2017, Blink cameras were free to use, though an optional "Blink Seecurity" system could be bought for $9.99/m or $19.99/m depending on the monitoring option.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/1/2/14052292/blink-camera-seecurity-price-date|title=Little Blink camera expands into whole-home security, for a price|first=Thomas|last=Ricker|work=TheVerge|date=2017-01-02|access-date=2025-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208013316/https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/1/2/14052292/blink-camera-seecurity-price-date|archive-date=2024-12-08|url-status=live}}</ref> The $90 million acquisition by Amazon was mostly in part to obtain the “energy-efficient processor technology” and to differentiate from other smart home companies with 2-year battery life for cameras.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/amazons-blink-unveils-new-security-camera-proprietary-chip-enables-two-year-battery-life/|title=Amazon’s Blink unveils new security camera with ‘exclusive’ chip and two-year battery life|first=Todd|last=Bishop|date=2019-05-09|access-date=2025-03-17|work=GeekWire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306095929/https://www.geekwire.com/2019/amazons-blink-unveils-new-security-camera-proprietary-chip-enables-two-year-battery-life/|archive-date=2024-03-06|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
As of 2021, the business model of Blink | As of 2021, the business model of Blink relies on users spending monthly or yearly on a Blink subscription plan after the purchase of the cameras.<ref name="SubAmazon">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Plus-Plan-monthly-auto-renewal/dp/B08JHCVHTY|title=Blink Subscription Plus Plan with monthly auto-renewal|work=Amazon|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211004340/https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Plus-Plan-monthly-auto-renewal/dp/B08JHCVHTY|archive-date=2025-02-11|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the introduction of subscriptions, Blink significantly increased their user base by offering free cloud storage and devices with battery life<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Blink-XT2-Outdoor-Security-included/dp/B096ZZ923V|title=Blink XT2 Outdoor/Indoor Smart Security Camera with cloud storage included, 2-way audio, 2-year battery life – 2 camera kit (Used Condition) |work=Amazon|access-date=2025-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908232302/https://www.amazon.com/Blink-XT2-Outdoor-Security-included/dp/B096ZZ923V?smid=A1KWJVS57NX03I&linkCode=sl1&tag=achrafourahoa-20&linkId=2ecbff960d0de3882b6c61a323b5e943&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl|archive-date=2021-09-08|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
====Market control==== | ====Market control==== | ||
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===Introduction of subscription model=== | ===Introduction of subscription model=== | ||
[[File:Blink subscription chart.png|right|thumb|alt=|Price chart for subscriptions as of March 2025.]] | [[File:Blink subscription chart.png|right|thumb|alt=|Price chart for subscriptions as of March 2025.]] | ||
With the release of the Outdoor 3 and Mini<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techhive.com/article/578452/the-blink-mini-indoor-camera-is-blinks-least-expensive-cam-yet.html|title=The new $35 Blink Mini indoor camera is Blink’s least expensive cam yet|first=Ben|last=Patterson|work=Tech Hive|date=2020-04-02|access-date=2025-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524034607/https://www.techhive.com/article/578452/the-blink-mini-indoor-camera-is-blinks-least-expensive-cam-yet.html|archive-date=2022-05-24|url-status=live}}</ref> in 2020, Blink began switching from a free cloud model to a subscription system ( | With the release of the Outdoor 3 and Mini<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techhive.com/article/578452/the-blink-mini-indoor-camera-is-blinks-least-expensive-cam-yet.html|title=The new $35 Blink Mini indoor camera is Blink’s least expensive cam yet|first=Ben|last=Patterson|work=Tech Hive|date=2020-04-02|access-date=2025-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524034607/https://www.techhive.com/article/578452/the-blink-mini-indoor-camera-is-blinks-least-expensive-cam-yet.html|archive-date=2022-05-24|url-status=live}}</ref> in 2020, Blink began switching from a free cloud model to a subscription system (finalized in early 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techhive.com/article/579287/blink-announces-new-storage-options.html|title=Amazon’s Blink offers new storage options for its home security camera line|first=Micheal|last=Brown|work=Tech Hive|date=2021-03-19|access-date=2025-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122142210/https://www.techhive.com/article/579287/blink-announces-new-storage-options.html|archive-date=2022-01-22|url-status=live}}</ref>). The "basic plan" only allows 1 device per account ($3/m or $30/y<ref name="SubAmazon" />), while the "plus plan" allows for unlimited devices and includes an extended device warranty ($10/m or $100/y<ref name="SubAmazon" />).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.blinkforhome.com/en_GB/subscriptions/purchase-blink-subscription-plan|title=Purchasing and Managing Blink Subscription Plans (US) |work=Blink|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://archive.ph/Y8YOv|archive-date=2025-03-15|url-status=live}}</ref> Previous accounts with Indoor, XT, or XT2 devices were given "legacy" status, which allowed for 7,200 seconds of free cloud storage per sync module.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.blinkforhome.com/en_GB/using-your-camera/blink-storage-options|title=Blink Storage Options|work=Blink|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://archive.ph/Ctoav|archive-date=2025-03-15|url-status=live}}</ref> Some users with legacy accounts have had issues where the app would have users on a "30 day trial period" when upgrading cameras.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/blinkcameras/comments/16gft91/is_legacy_account_gone/|title=Is legacy account gone? : r/blinkcameras|author=u/SandiB14|work=Reddit|archive-url=https://archive.ph/eOPNd|archive-date=2025-03-10|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
Users have complained the app forces you into purchasing a subscription even with local storage, with one user alleging without one they cannot filter clips, cannot have stable doorbell live views, and clip names on the Sync Module 2 local storage are random numbers instead of dates, though others have reported different experiences without a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/blinkcameras/comments/yvqzz6/the_truth_about_blink_without_a_subscription/|title=The Truth about Blink without a subscription. : r/blinkcameras|author=u/sonnythemoney|work=Reddit|date=2022-11-15|access-date=2025-03-10|archive-url=https://archive.ph/H1l6D|archive-date=2025-03-10|url-status=live}}</ref> | Users have complained the app forces you into purchasing a subscription even with local storage, with one user alleging without one they cannot filter clips, cannot have stable doorbell live views, and clip names on the Sync Module 2 local storage are random numbers instead of dates, though others have reported different experiences without a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/blinkcameras/comments/yvqzz6/the_truth_about_blink_without_a_subscription/|title=The Truth about Blink without a subscription. : r/blinkcameras|author=u/sonnythemoney|work=Reddit|date=2022-11-15|access-date=2025-03-10|archive-url=https://archive.ph/H1l6D|archive-date=2025-03-10|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||