First Alert® Ups the Ante on Home Safety and Internet Connectivity at CES in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sands Expo #40737 – First Alert has announced its newest Onelink connected home products will soon come together as one, giving unparalleled functionality to necessary life safety products already delivering peace of mind, convenience and connectivity to consumers nationwide.

The home safety expert showcasing its latest innovations at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas will plan to launch its Onelink Connect dedicated Wi-Fi mesh backhaul inside its already multi-faceted Onelink Safe & Sound smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with premium speaker and built-in virtual assistants and its next generation of Onelink Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in the future.

"Launching the Onelink Connect product at this CES as a stand-alone addition to our Onelink portfolio is the tip of the iceberg for our brand," said Tom Russo, vice president of marketing and product development for First Alert, the most trusted brand in home safety*. "The placement of our alarm products on the ceiling gives us a distinct advantage in delivering on the promise of better Internet connectivity throughout the home while simultaneously helping people protect what matters most to them and taking full advantage of what Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant or Siri can offer the consumer."

Set to launch in 2018, the Onelink Connect is the first Wi-Fi mesh tri-band solution from First Alert. The Onelink Connect system includes three access points which can be placed throughout the home. These are in constant communication with one another via a dedicated backhaul, preventing congestion and directing maximum internet speeds to the locations where it's needed most. The resulting network blankets the home with consistent Wi-Fi coverage, enabling users and devices to get online – and stay online – faster and easier.

True to First Alert's legacy of home safety and protection, Onelink Connect places a premium on security by creating a closed, private network to help detect and prevent cyber-threats and hacks. Onelink Connect scans every outbound connection from the network to analyze URLs and IP addresses to detect malicious traffic and infected machines. Users are notified of any potential malicious activity and, if restricted settings are enabled, the Connect can block any questionable content.

"We are planning to integrate the Onelink Connect technology into our hardwired Onelink smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the future," said Russo. "When the backhaul exists through a home's wiring, it will allow the products to deliver even more advanced features to the consumer, including detailed thread analysis to track unauthorized network access and more."

Additionally, integrated Onelink Connect technology in the Onelink Safe & Sound and Onelink Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms will allow greater signal strength thanks to the alarms' strategic placement on the ceiling. The beamforming effect of ceiling installation will allow better Wi-Fi signals from floor-to-floor.

Stronger Internet Connections, Premium Speaker and Host of Lifestyle Features
Future generations of the Onelink Safe & Sound will therefore feature Onelink Connect technology and myriad other features just announced. The Onelink Safe & Sound delivers added convenience and enjoyment to every household. It is the first announced smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm with a superior home speaker and ability to process voice commands. The device features exclusive voice and location technology to alert users to the type of danger and its location. The wireless interconnection feature automatically activates other Onelink alarms in the home when an emergency is detected. Options include:

• Onelink Safe & Sound with Amazon Alexa – Need Something? Just ask Alexa – built directly into the new Onelink Safe & Sound. Users can simply ask Alexa to play music, hear the news, check the weather and control other smart home devices with the Onelink Safe & Sound.
• Onelink Safe & Sound with the Google Assistant – Simply say "Hey Google," to trigger the Google Assistant that's built directly into the new Onelink Safe & Sound. Users can have their own personal Google right on their ceiling and ask it questions or tell it to do something. From controlling devices in the home to providing information about your day, the Google Assistant simplifies life and can help accomplish tasks, play music and more – all via the Onelink Safe & Sound smoke and CO alarm.
• Onelink Safe & Sound with Apple HomeKit – Using the Apple Home app or Siri, simply and securely control Onelink Safe & Sound as well as other HomeKit accessories right from an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. Set up scenes, access the Onelink Safe & Sound remotely, or have things happen automatically. The Onelink Safe & Sound will also support Apple AirPlay 2 upon availability. AirPlay 2 enables multi-room audio and Siri control for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users, all through the Apple Home app.

"We continue to enhance the Onelink portfolio to provide consumers added connectivity and convenience with their devices," Russo said. "As the leader in the home safety industry, First Alert is proud to ensure users can be connected and protected with Onelink."

Experience the latest from the Onelink portfolio on display at the First Alert booth (Sands Expo #40737) at CES 2018.

*First Alert Brand Trust Survey, February 2017 – Results are based on the responses of 1,004 adults, ages 18 and older, living in the United States who completed a telephone survey, February 16-19, 2017. Results are accurate to +/- 3 percentage points with a 95 percent confidence level and can be generalized to the entire adult population in the United States within those statistical parameters. For more information or a copy of the complete survey and results, contact Tim Young at LCWA: 312/565-4628 or tyoung@lcwa.com.

About BRK Brands, Inc.
BRK Brands, Inc. (Aurora, IL), is a fully owned subsidiary of Newell Brands. For 60 years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of First Alert^®-branded home-safety products, the most trusted and recognized safety brand in America. BRK^® Brands designs and develops innovative safety solutions including Tundra^™ Fire Extinguishing Spray, Onelink by First Alert smart home products, a comprehensive line of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders to protect what matters most.  Such products are also marketed under the BRK Electronics^® brand, The Professional Standard for the builder and contractor audiences.  BRK Brands, Inc. products are found in more than 30 countries worldwide.  For more information, visit http://www.firstalert.com, http://www.brkelectronics.com or http://www.newellbrands.com.

About Newell Brands 
Newell Brands (NYSE: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer's®, Coleman®, Jostens®, Marmot®, Rawlings®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Waddington and Yankee Candle®. For hundreds of millions of consumers, Newell Brands makes life better every day, where they live, learn, work and play.

This press release and additional information about Newell Brands are available on the company's website, http://www.newellbrands.com.

©2018 BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL 60504. All rights reserved.
BRK Electronics^®, First Alert^® and Onelink^® are registered trademarks of BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL 60504.
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SOURCE First Alert