Amazon expands Eero line and introduces Internet Backup

Amazon showed its Eero Wi-Fi lineup some love this morning during a hardware event, announcing the Eero PoE 6, a Wi-Fi 6 Power over Ethernet (PoE) access point that can provide up to 2,000 square feet of coverage and support up to 100 devices. A complementary new product, the Eero PoE Gateway, delivers up to 100 watts of pooled power for multiple PoE devices.

Amazon says that the Eero PoE 6 can go almost anywhere Ethernet cable can be pulled, including mounted on walls or ceilings. As for the Eero PoE Gateway, it’s Amazon’s first device with 10 Gigabit Ethernet, delivering what one would assume is a speedy wired experience.

Both new and existing Eero devices will be able to tap into Eero Internet Backup, a new software feature that allows customers to set up a “backup” internet connection — like a phone or mobile hotspot — and have their network automatically attempt to switch over when an outage occurs. Eero Internet Backup will begin to roll out in coming months as a software update for subscribers to Eero Plus, Eero’s premium service plan, and select ISP customers with a compatible Eero device.

Elsewhere, Amazon launched new Eero services aimed at enterprise customers. From a press release:

Eero for Business is a set of hardware and software capabilities built for small businesses with limited or no IT support that delivers a professional-grade Wi-Fi solution and dedicated customer support to make deploying and managing Wi-Fi networks easier. It supports multiple SSIDs for a protected internal and public guest network, captive portal management to create a customized guest Wi-Fi experience for visitors through personalized welcome screens, and includes Eero Insight and Eero Secure for the business.

Eero for Pro Installers: With Eero for Pro Installers, professional installers gain access to a new set of software tools designed to help quickly set up a customer’s Wi-Fi network and manage issues remotely through the Eero app. This five-year license provides access to premium Eero Insight features in the Eero app, including network health monitoring and remote network management. It also includes the ability to easily transfer networks from installers to customers — and it is included with Eero PoE 6 or Eero PoE Gateway when purchased through authorized professional installers.

Eero PoE 6 will be available in October through authorized installers starting at $299.99; it’ll come to ISP partners and Amazon in early 2023. Meanwhile, the Eero PoE Gateway will come to market early next year through ISP partners and Amazon priced at $645.99.