Ring, the Amazon-owned home security company, infuses a touch of holiday spirit into its doorbells with the return of limited-time special greeting messages. These messages provide a fun and festive way to acknowledge visitors at the door, especially during busy holiday gatherings. Along with traditional holiday greetings for Christmas and Hanukkah, Ring offers a unique twist this year by incorporating six cheeky messages voiced by the iconic Grinch, adding a humorous element to the usual doorbell chimes. These Quick Replies serve as a convenient way to communicate with visitors when homeowners are momentarily unavailable to answer the door directly. However, Ring emphasizes the temporary nature of these seasonal messages, reminding users that they will revert to the standard message once the holiday season concludes.
The available festive messages range from classic holiday greetings such as “Hey! Happy Holidays, we’ll be right there” and “Merry Christmas! We’re a little, wrapped up at the moment. Leave us a message” to Grinch-themed quips like “A visitor? To this house? MAX! Ugh, fine. They’ll be right there” and “Sing songs and bake cookies?! Thank goodness, now you can do it. They’ll be right there.” This diverse selection offers homeowners options to match their personal holiday spirit, whether they prefer traditional warmth or a touch of Grinch-like grumbling. The inclusion of Hanukkah greetings ensures inclusivity and reflects the diverse celebrations observed during this period.
While these festive messages add a touch of holiday cheer, Ring also offers standard Smart Replies for those outside the holiday season. These pre-recorded messages offer a practical solution for managing visitors when homeowners are unable to immediately answer the door. These standard messages, while less festive, still provide a polite and efficient way to acknowledge visitors and request that they leave a message if necessary. The option to view live reactions to the chosen message through the Ring app adds an element of entertainment and allows homeowners to gauge the visitor’s response.
Accessing and customizing these Smart Replies is a straightforward process within the Ring app. Users navigate to the device settings, locate the Smart Responses section, and enable Quick Replies. From there, they can choose their preferred message from the available options, whether it’s a festive greeting, a Grinch-inspired quip, or a standard message. The simple interface makes it easy to personalize the doorbell experience and tailor it to specific occasions or preferences. It’s worth noting that leaving messages for homeowners requires a premium Ring Protect subscription, while selecting and using Smart Replies is available for free.
Beyond the holiday greetings and standard messages, Ring has also collaborated with celebrities to offer personalized greetings for doorbells. Popular duo Ant and Dec have lent their voices to create unique messages, adding a touch of celebrity flair to the doorbell experience. These messages, like “a very large package” and “too busy watching telly,” inject humor and personality into the interaction with visitors. This feature demonstrates Ring’s commitment to enhancing the user experience and offering a wider range of options beyond the functional aspects of home security.
The availability of celebrity voices, festive greetings, and standard messages provides Ring users with a comprehensive suite of options to customize their doorbell experience. Whether it’s embracing the holiday spirit, managing visitors efficiently, or adding a touch of celebrity charm, Ring’s Smart Replies offer a versatile solution for interacting with those at the doorstep. This combination of functionality and personalization contributes to a more engaging and user-friendly home security experience.