Android Security Cameras?

For the last few years, I've been using Y-Cam security cameras to guard my home.

I've stuck a couple up around the house. I can monitor what's happening, get email alerts when movement is detected, and can stream the video to my phone.

The latest versions also upload photos and videos directly to my server so - in the event that they detect anything interesting, I have a backed up copy. They even do night vision.

If you buy the cameras directly, they cost from £135 to £135. That's quite a chunk of change. Could these dedicated security cameras be replaced with cheap Android phones?

There's no doubt that the Y-Cam does have significant advantages - mounting and infra-red being the main two. It also has dedicated software to manage account, uploading, etc. There are some free Android Apps for security monitoring. You could take advantage of DropBox's free space and Android app to back up photos and videos.

The all-in-one package of the Y-Cam is compelling - and I've found their reliability and support to be excellent - but as Android takes over the world, surely security cameras will move to Android rather than relying on their proprietary and closed systems?

Even if the security industry doesn't produce dedicated hardware and a suit of software products, there's nothing to stop you just configuring some Android phones and duct-taping them to the walls.

For the cost of a high end Y-Cam, I could buy four cheap Android phones. The video and image quality would be better, there's battery backup, and if the WiFi goes down they could use 3G.

Android is going to disrupt the most unexpected niches.