Joining products like the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Protect smoke detector among the Internet of things is a garage door opener add-on from Alottazs Labs known as the Garageio. The device promises to turn your ordinary garage door opener into a Wi-Fi connected unit the whole family can use.
Installation of the Garageio kit takes about 20 minutes and works alongside your existing keypad and remote openers. Better yet, one Garageio Blackbox can control up to three separate garage doors from different manufactures.
Once installed, simply download the Garageio app on your smartphone and complete the setup process. Up to 10 users can be given access to a single Garageio at the same time which is more than enough for the average family and even friends and the babysitter.
In addition to simply being able to open or close your garage door from anywhere in the world, Garageio can alert you when your door is opened or closed and tell you who accessed the door and when. What's more, the app can also alert you if you accidentally leave the door open.
This isn't the first add-on smart garage device we've seen but unlike others already available, it uses Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth. The benefits of Wi-Fi over Bluetooth are numerous (improved range, ability to use it away from home, etc.).
Garageio will retail for $149 when it ships next month and it's also worth pointing out there are no setup / activation fees nor are there any monthly subscription fees. It's available for pre-order as of writing.