For years, home security has been relatively expensive, with homeowners paying an average of $44 per month for a professionally installed and monitored system. About 22 percent of U.S. homeowners subscribe to such services, according to the research firm Parks Associates.

But the spread of high-speed broadband access, coupled with the rise of smartphones, opened the doors — almost literally — for a new breed of wireless security cameras and sensors that homeowners can install and monitor themselves.

From the article "Doorbell live-cams fight back against porch pirates filching packages" by the Benny Evangelista.