phone entry system

Alternatives to cellular telephone entry systems

Alternatives to cellular telephone entry systems

Alternatives to cellular telephone entry systems

As the smartphone gets smarter, cellular telephone entry systems are becoming obsolete. They’re harder to install and offer fewer features than the latest property access control solutions. But there’s good news: You have better options.

Three possible  cell phone entry systems alternatives include:

  1. Cellular telephone entry systems with cameras :   

To accommodate technology innovations, some manufacturers have opted to offer the telephone entry system with a camera. These systems may have a built-in camera or may require you to purchase and install a camera separately.

However, telephone-based intercoms can’t handle two-way video transfers. As a result, residents can see videos of their visitors, but visitors can’t see residents.

       2. WiFi phone entry systems :  

Some companies have attempted to modernize the telephone entry system by using WiFi instead of cellular networks in recent years. WiFi telephone entry systems send data between residents’ cell phones and system hardware via WiFi instead of a telephone network.

WiFi telephone entry systems are a decent attempt at adapting cellular systems to the modern age. However, they fall short in crucial ways. WiFi networks and cellular networks are different. Because of that, consistent and rapid communication between them is difficult.

Cell phones, especially smartphones, can easily interpret data from WiFi networks. But cellular telephone entry systems can’t. Since cellular telephone systems can only handle specific data, adding WiFi capabilities to a telephone entry system.

3. Video intercom systems :

Video intercoms are the best alternative to a cellular telephone entry system.

Like cellular entry systems, intelligent video intercoms use phones as intercom substations that allow communication and guest entry. But unlike cellular entry systems, video intercoms are capable of more than just phone calls. The best video intercoms for apartments are fully smartphone-compatible and leverage the full power of the smartphone for a seamless property access experience.

Video intercoms let residents use their smartphones to video chat with visitors and open doors and gates remotely. They also offer other property access methods, which means visitors have more than one way to request access. The best systems may offer virtual keys for planned visits and delivery PINs and passes for courier access.

Pro tip: When shopping for a video intercom, choose a cloud-based system that lets you manage access and update your tenant directory remotely.

Here’s a comparison between intelligent video intercoms and cellular telephone entry systems:

Feature

Smart video intercom

Cellular telephone entry system

Remote door opening

Virtual keys for guest access

Video chat

Web-based dashboard

Integrations with other intelligent building systems

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

Cell phone entry systems may be a step up from the traditional telephone entry system. Still, they fail to offer the robust features and functionality of video intercoms. If you’re looking for a better multi-tenant entry system, choose a video intercom like ButterflyMX instead. Installed in more than 5,000 buildings, ButterflyMX is the industry’s leading property access control services.

How does a cellular telephone entry system work?

Work of cellular telephone entry system

How does a cellular telephone entry system work?

Cellular telephone entry systems work by using cellular networks to establish contact between guests and visitors.

These calls allow residents to speak to whoever is at the base station and grant guests an access control system. Since the system is cell phone-based, residents don’t even have to be building to let their guests onto the property.

Here’s how a cellular telephone entry system works: 

A guest seeking property access finds the resident they’re visiting in the entry system’s base station.

The telephone entry system places a call over a cellular network to the resident’s phone.

When the resident picks up, they can speak with the guest like any other phone call. Their guests can also hear and talk to them since the system’s base station has a microphone and speaker.

Finally, the resident can let the guest in by pressing ‘9’ on their cell phone.

Limitations of cellular telephone entry systems

Cellular telephone entry systems are more convenient than landline systems. But cellular systems fail to offer all the features that today’s residents expect from a modern building entry system.

Here are some limitations of cellular telephone entry systems:

Expensive. Using a cellular network for calls may require you to invest in a commercial-grade cellphone plan with an ongoing, high-bandwidth connection.

Inconvenient for you. Who’s going to be stuck with scheduling and managing a technician whenever a resident moves in or out? Those aren’t tasks you need to add to your busy schedule. Best to look for a system that automatically updates rent rolls, taking things off your plate instead of piling on.

They lack video. Cellular telephone entry systems don’t offer video functionality. That means residents can’t get video chat with visitors and visually confirm who’s requesting property access control system.

Few property access methods. When visitors arrive at a building with a cell phone entry system, they only call the resident. There are no virtual keys for guests or delivery PINs for couriers.

No cloud-based management. Cloud-based entry systems let property staff manage access and update the tenant directory with a web-based dashboard from anywhere, on any device. In contrast, cellular entry systems require you to download software onto one specific device to manage the system remotely.

Difference between a cellular telephone entry system and a landline entry system

Cellular Telephone Entry Systems: Your Questions Answered

What is the difference between a cellular telephone entry system and a landline entry system?

Cellular telephone entry systems work on cellular telephone networks, so they do not require landlines. They still provide the same voice-based functionality. A visitor can hit a “call” button on such a system, and it will ring a designated number where someone can speak to them and grant can entry in an access control system. But because most people today have “smart” cellular telephones that allow them to see video feed and download apps. Cellular telephone entry systems have many more capabilities than previous landline-based telephone entry systems ever could have.

In traditional landline telephone entry systems, the system connects via a wired landline. In contrast, cellular entry systems connect via a cellular connection, much like what your cell phone uses to make phone calls.

Landline entry systems require you to purchase and run a phone line to the base station installed at the entryway of your building. Now, cell phone entry systems have eliminated the need for telephone wiring. This lack of wiring also makes setting up an outdoor gate access control system more accessible. As you’ll no longer need to run wiring from your building to your gate.

Cellular monitoring services

Cellular monitoring is steadily becoming more popular for building security systems. Cellular monitoring services work through the cellular towers rather than routing through a landline. This flexible solution means your home security doesn’t rely on a landline property or an internet connection.

A cellular system is exceptionally versatile because there’s no need to run any wires. On the other hand, cellular systems often consume more battery energy because the wireless system requires energy to use. You can create an entirely wireless solution through the internet (when applicable) and cellular data.

Whether or cellular tower outages can disrupt a cellular building security system. Cellular-based systems also tend to be more expensive upfront. However, they may contain more advanced technologies and could even save money in the long term.

Advantages to cellular monitoring services include: 

A versatile, wireless system that doesn’t need any additional connections.

Affordability, depending on whether the property owner has a landline.

Being able to place anywhere and easily take the plan with you if you move.

Landline Monitoring Services

Most traditional services are landline monitoring services, meaning they connect directly to a phone line. These monitoring services often require their dedicated landline to alert emergency services when something triggers the alarm.

Landline services aren’t disrupted by weather the way cellular telephone entry systems are, but they still can potentially go down. When they do, they may create a false alarm.

Advantages to landline monitoring services include:

Stability of monitoring. These systems are less likely to experience outages.

Ease of setup since many homes already have landline technology in place for the monitoring system.

Being less likely to require or run on battery power

The affordability, both in terms of technology and monitoring cost.

Cellular vs. landline monitoring

Many security companies offer both cellular and landline monitoring systems, depending on your specific needs. If you want to run wires, a landline system may prove more affordable and durable. But if you want a versatile design that doesn’t need hard-wired connections, you may prefer a cellular system.

Some companies recommend you have both cellular and wired systems. That way, if the wired landline system goes down, the cellular operates as a backup — or vice versa —especially in places with intermittent connections, like rural areas.

Due to similarities in the equipment, it’s purely the connection you need to consider. You can access the same features and the same monitoring experience through either cellular or landline monitoring. You’ll need to determine which is best for you based on reliability and cost, which will depend on your area and the system you choose.

How landline systems became cellular systems

They have developed cellular telephone entry systems during the shift from landline phones to cell phones.

Before they used cellular networks, telephone entry systems used copper wires to connect an entryway’s door station to each resident’s apartment. Installing one of these entry systems meant modifying existing phone lines or purchasing and laying new wiring.

Even today, running wire throughout a building means tearing out walls and rebuilding them again, and those costs add up. What’s more, residents could only answer calls from guests when they were in their properties. As a result, landline phone entry systems caused residents to miss visitors and deliveries.

When cell phone popularity exploded in the 2000s, the landline system quickly became outdated. Intercom providers turned to cellular technology as a better, more efficient alternative to wired landlines. In contrast to landline systems, cell phone-based systems use cellular networks, eliminating the need for wiring.