Blog & News

Smartphone-Only Intercom Deployments: Why 60% of New Buildings Are Skipping Indoor Monitors

Quick Navigation What Is a Smartphone-Only Intercom Deployment? A smartphone-only intercom deployment is exactly what it sounds like: a building entry system where residents interact with visitors entirely through their smartphones—with no dedicated indoor monitor or handset installed in each apartment. Instead of installing expensive, hard-wired indoor stations in every unit, modern systems route visitor calls directly to…

Can You Install a Video Intercom Yourself? DIY vs Professional Installation Guide

Quick Navigation The Short Answer: It Depends on Your Building Can you install a video intercom yourself? Yes—but only in certain situations. For a single-family home with a simple, battery-powered wireless doorbell, DIY installation is a perfectly reasonable weekend project. For a multifamily apartment building with multiple entry points, dozens or hundreds of units, and integration with elevators or access…

Video Intercom for Mixed-Use Buildings: How to Manage Residential, Retail, and Office Access in One System

What Is a Mixed-Use Building? A mixed-use building combines multiple functions—residential apartments, retail stores, commercial offices, and often hospitality or entertainment—within a single structure or development. These properties are among the fastest-growing trends in real estate and access management. They range from high-rise towers with retail on the ground floor and apartments above, to sprawling developments like…

Why 90% of Multifamily Owners Are Upgrading Their Intercom Systems in 2026

Quick Navigation The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Massive Upgrade Wave Is Underway Nearly 90% of multi-dwelling unit (MDU) owners and operators in the U.S. are planning to deploy, upgrade, or replace a smart building solution—and intercom systems are at the top of that list. The data tells a clear story. The global Video Intercom Devices…

8 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Video Intercom for Your Apartment Complex

Buying a video intercom for an apartment complex is a capital improvement decision—one that will impact security, resident satisfaction, and operational costs for years to come. With the global video intercom devices market projected to reach $26.67 billion in 2026 and growing at a CAGR of 12.51%, the options are more varied than ever. The wrong choice leads…

7 Video Intercom Features That Multifamily Residents Actually Care About in 2026

Quick Navigation In 2026, technology is no longer just an amenity in multifamily housing—it’s a baseline expectation. The global video intercom devices market is projected to reach $26.67 billion in 2026 and continue growing at a CAGR of 12.51%. Meanwhile, 54% of renters now expect smart locks, thermostats, and security cameras in a modern rental unit, and 48% expect smart…

PoE Intercom vs Wireless Intercom: Which Is More Reliable for Large Buildings?

Quick Navigation When it comes to securing a large multifamily or commercial building, choosing between a PoE (Power over Ethernet) intercom and a wireless intercom is one of the most consequential decisions a property owner or manager can make. The global video intercom devices market was valued at $2.81 billion in 2025** and is projected to reach **$5.49 billion by…

2-Wire IP Retrofit: The Smartest Way to Upgrade Legacy Intercom Systems in 2026

What Is a 2-Wire IP Retrofit? A 2-wire IP retrofit is a method of upgrading an old analog intercom system to a modern IP-based video intercom system without replacing the existing building wiring. Instead of running new Ethernet cables to every apartment, the system reuses the existing two-core copper cabling already running through the building walls to transmit…

AI-Powered Video Intercoms: How Facial Recognition and Smart Detection Are Changing Access Control

Quick Navigation What Makes a Video Intercom “AI-Powered”? A traditional video intercom is a passive device—it shows you who’s at the door, but it doesn’t understand what it’s seeing. An AI-powered video intercom is different: it actively analyzes what its cameras see and hear, identifies people, packages, and events, and takes intelligent action. AI-enabled video intercoms now…

2-Wire vs 4-Wire Video Intercom: Which Wiring System Is Right for Your Building?

Quick Navigation When upgrading or installing a video intercom system in a multifamily building, one of the most critical decisions you’ll face is which wiring system to choose. The two most common wired options are 2-wire and 4-wire systems—and the choice between them can significantly impact your installation costs, system performance, and long-term scalability. In retrofit intercom projects, the biggest…

IP Intercom vs Analog: Which System Delivers Better ROI for Multifamily Properties?

Quick Navigation When it comes to upgrading or installing an intercom system in a multifamily property, one of the first decisions property owners face is whether to go with an analog system or an IP system. Both have their advantages—but the question of which delivers better ROI requires looking beyond the upfront price tag. An analog intercom uses…

Video Intercom System Cost in 2026: How Much Should You Budget for Your Apartment Building?

Quick Navigation 2026 Video Intercom Cost at a Glance Upgrading a building’s entry system is a capital improvement decision, and the first question property owners ask is almost always the same: how much does a video intercom system cost? Quick answer: Video intercom costs typically range from $1,500 to $50,000+, depending on the number of doors, system…