Amazon has recently made a customer-friendly move. They are offering to replace their discontinued Cloud Cam smart cameras with the newer Blink Mini. Earlier this year, the company decided to discontinue its Cloud Cam line of products. Additionally, they decided to stop supporting the associated mobile apps.
To ease the transition for customers, Amazon stated in May 2022 that they would be reaching out via email to provide instructions on how to order their replacement products. The replacements also come with the added benefit of a one-year Blink Subscription Plus Plan. Upon Amazon’s announcement to replace discontinued Cloud Cam smart cameras with the new Blink Mini, customers were initially concerned as the expected emails did not arrive promptly.
This raised worries that they might have been misled or accidentally missed the communication. However, the situation has been clarified, and the emails have started being sent out recently. Over the past few days, owners of Amazon Cloud Cam have reported receiving instructions. That will explain how to proceed with ordering their replacement Blink product.
Overview: Amazon Cloud Cam
In a recent email sent to customers, Amazon expresses gratitude for their support and discloses the offer they are providing. For every active Cloud Cam device registered to a user’s account, Amazon will be giving away a complimentary Blink Mini. They will give it along with a one-year Blink Subscription Plus Plan. It will grant coverage for all devices under the Blink account.
The email also specifies the Cloud Cam products identified as active on the user’s account. Additionally, it provides step-by-step instructions on how to complete the purchase using a unique promo code. However, please note that each order can only utilize one promo code. For customers with multiple Cloud Cam setups, they will need to process separate checkouts for each device they wish to replace.
What Does the Replacement of Amazon Cloud Cam Offer?
The replacement product, Blink Mini, is an indoor security camera. It boasts impressive features including 1080p HD video, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, night vision, motion detection, and two-way audio. Just like its predecessor, Cloud Cam, Blink Mini is also compatible with Alexa, providing seamless integration with smart home systems. Customers will find the familiar specifications they enjoyed with Cloud Cam. These include 1080p HD video, night vision, and two-way audio, now available in Blink Mini.
To ensure an environmentally responsible approach, Amazon offers customers the option to recycle their old cameras. By requesting a free UPS shipping label through the Amazon Recycling Program, customers can conveniently dispose of their old devices in an eco-friendly manner.
Once customers have purchased the Blink Mini product, they will need to log into their Amazon account. They can do that by using their associated email. From there, they can proceed to place an order for their Blink Subscription. It will appear as free during the checkout process. It’s important to note that setting up a Blink account is necessary for activating the subscription plan.
The new Blink Subscription offered to Blink Mini users represents a departure from the previous subscription options available to Cloud Cam users. However, with the introduction of the Blink Subscription Plus Plan, users now have a different payment model. Priced at $10 per month (or $100 per year), this plan provides the convenience of 60-day unlimited video history for an unlimited number of Blink devices. Note that it is a significant improvement from the previous limitation to just one device.
Other Important Details
For former Cloud Cam customers who are replacing a single camera with Blink Mini, they have the option to switch to the more affordable Blink Subscription Basic Plan once their free year is over. To assist customers in the transition, Amazon is allowing them ample time to export their data from the Cloud Cam platform before it becomes inaccessible. From December 2, 2022, onward, customers will no longer have access to Cloud Cam. The same is true for its associated apps. Therefore, it is important to take advantage of the given timeframe to retrieve any necessary data.
Until December 2, 2022, customers have the option to download their existing video recordings from the Cloud Cam platform if they wish to preserve them. However, Amazon emphasizes that after the specified date, all video history will be permanently deleted. To export their content, customers need to follow a simple process.
They should access the app’s “Recorded Clips” section. Then, click on each video they want to save, and then use the Download icon to store the recording. It’s essential to take action before the cutoff date to ensure they retain access to their desired video clips.
Conclusion:
Amazon made the strategic decision to discontinue the Cloud Cam, which was initially introduced in 2017. The reason behind this move was the continuous expansion of Amazon’s smart home ecosystem, featuring a wide range of Alexa-connected devices. As part of its business focus, Amazon chose to concentrate its efforts on other products in the smart home lineup.
In the initial email sent to Cloud Cam customers, Amazon expressed gratitude for their support and collaboration over the past five years. Cloud Cam had successfully served as a dependable indoor security camera, and it also acted as a central hub for Amazon Key-compatible smart locks that integrated seamlessly with Alexa.
FAQs
Q: What is the replacement offer from Amazon for discontinued Cloud Cams?
A: Amazon is offering to replace discontinued Cloud Cams with new Blink Mini devices.
Q: Why did Amazon decide to replace Cloud Cams with Blink Mini devices?
A: Amazon made the decision to replace Cloud Cams with Blink Mini devices to focus its efforts on other products within its smart home lineup.
Q: How can customers request the replacement Blink Mini devices?
A: Amazon will send an email to customers with instructions on how to order their replacement Blink Mini devices.
