Arlo Europe adds Emergency SOS to smart camera service

Arlo Europe has launched a smart home camera service in Europe with a built-in Emergency SOS button, giving users direct access to local emergency services from a smartphone lock screen.

The launch adds an emergency contact function to Arlo's existing Early Warning System, which is used by more than 5 million customers worldwide, according to the company. The service is intended to help users respond when connected cameras detect suspicious activity or other events.

Under the new set-up, users who receive an alert can open live video in the Arlo app, trigger a spotlight or siren, or use two-way audio to speak through the device. If the situation worsens, the Emergency SOS function lets them contact local emergency services either through the app or directly from the phone lock screen.

Arlo says it is the first smart home camera system of its kind in Europe to include a built-in Emergency SOS button, based on publicly available information gathered in February. The feature will be offered through Arlo Secure subscription plans.

Service details

The wider Early Warning System uses AI to identify people, vehicles, animals, packages and fire, according to Arlo. It also includes customisable face and vehicle alerts, allowing users to add familiar faces and vehicles so the system can recognise who is arriving.

Another feature lets users train alerts around specific scenarios, such as an open garage or a running sprinkler. The service also includes a lock screen preview function, enabling users to press and hold a notification to watch a preview and take action from the alert.

Cloud storage remains part of the package, with footage stored for 30 days through European-based cloud services. Arlo also offers a theft replacement guarantee under which stolen cameras are replaced.

The move reflects a broader effort by security technology providers to shift smart home products beyond passive recording towards real-time intervention. Camera makers have increasingly added software functions aimed at separating routine activity from potential threats while reducing the need for users to review large volumes of footage.

For Arlo, the launch also strengthens its link with Verisure, the European monitored alarm group that owns the brand. Verisure has built its business around managed home security services, and the new SOS feature appears intended to bring some of that urgency and response model into consumer camera systems.

Adrienne Sharkey-Perves, managing director at Arlo Europe, said the addition was intended to reduce the delay between seeing a threat and seeking help.

"We know from our work at Verisure that seconds can make all the difference in an emergency," said Adrienne Sharkey-Perves, managing director, Arlo Europe.

She said the company sees the function as an extension of the alerting system already in place.

"Our Early Warning System already helps customers detect threats early. With Emergency SOS, they can now contact emergency services instantly when a situation escalates," said Sharkey-Perves.

The launch comes as smart home security brands face pressure to differentiate on software and service rather than hardware alone. Cameras, doorbells and motion sensors are now widely available across the consumer market, making app design, alert quality and response options a bigger part of the sales pitch.

Arlo is positioning the new service as part of a subscription offering rather than a standalone hardware feature. That approach follows a wider pattern in the connected device market, where recurring service revenue has become more important as hardware margins tighten and customers weigh whether monthly plans justify their cost.

Arlo describes itself as part of Europe's largest security alarm provider and says its platform combines connected devices with cloud-based analysis and interactive alerts. Its product range includes smart security cameras and video doorbells aimed at home users who want remote monitoring and app-based control.

The Emergency SOS function will be available through the Secure Pro Plan subscription, which includes lock screen access to local emergency services.