I actually have experience with all three systems, so perhaps I can offer some of my thoughts.
In terms of intercoms, the AiPhone has a better price point and can offer 90% of the features that the Unitone can provide. I don't think that currently it can do the call forwarding to a cell phone and I know that it can't display messages/notifications on its screen. Beyond those two points, both are functionally the same in that they allow someone in an apartment to see the person outside, talk to them, and buzz them into the building.
If I'm clear on your project's scope, you have 9 brownstones in a row with 3-4 units each. Both AiPhone and Unitone offer a digital scroll panel which lets guests browse through a list of the units and call them. AiPhone also has a direct button panel for smaller buildings, such as yours, where the tenant names are listed with buttons directly to the right of the name. In my experience, a button has always proven to be easier for delivery people to understand and use. People who speak limited english or who have poor eye sight may have problems reading the digital directory and understanding how it is used. The Unitone panel is a smaller form factor, but the AiPhone has an optional module where you can put instructions on how to use the system. With any extra space, you can also put a building logo or the building address.
I believe that both companies also offer the ability for a card reader to be installed in the front door intercom panel. This is nice for tenants because they don't have to fumble at night to find their keys on the street. It also is beneficial to the management company as most card access systems retain a transaction log which can be beneficial when there are people subletting illegally.
One thing that Unitone does not offer is a postal lock option. AiPhone sells a module which lets the USPS delivery person use their key at the intercom panel to unlock the door. You won't have to cut in a separate key box below the intercom for the mailman to open and retrieve the front door key from. I've found that those always tend to get damaged or vandalized.
The Unitone does offer a method for the Super to deliver a message to tenants via their intercom, but this option is geared towards a full time Super. I believe that there is a computer in the basement of each building that the Super logs into and uses to post the message to the intercoms in the building. For this project, you have 9 buildings which will make it a pain for the Super to repeat this process for each building. You also need a Super that's computer savvy, which isn't always the case. Although the feature looks nice as a developer, you have to consider whether the Super will actually use the system once you've moved onto the next project. If he doesn't, then the tenants won't be happy because they're not receiving the service and features that the broker probably sold them on.
As far as remotely granting access, both the Unitone and the Virtual Doorman are decent solutions. With the Unitone, the cost is less and there's no continuing service fee other than the phone line. The Virtual Doorman service has an installation fee as well as a monthly service fee which would need to be totaled up and put into your offering plan.
The problem of a cell phone call from the Unitone is that there's no video verification. If you buzz in a Fed Ex or UPS delivery person while you're away, there's the risk that it's not actually a delivery person that you're letting in. There's also the risk that instead of dropping off a package, they may take one that was delivered earlier that day. I'm also not sure how it works if there's a roommate situation. Let's say I'm living with a friend and I'm out for the weekend. She throws a party while I'm out of town. Everyone is enjoying the festivities and no one notices the intercom ring. The call gets forwarded to my cell phone and I have no idea of who the person is or what party they're talking about when they're asking me to buzz them in.
The Virtual Doorman service lets the management company or super call up and have notices sent directly to tenants via email and each tenant can be notified in the case of multiple people in one apartment. The system also has a live person verifying all deliveries and watching them as they take place. When a delivery is made or a guest is granted access, the tenant receives an email notification with the details. Tenants have the option of using a web portal, email or phone to let the service know of guests they are expecting. The tenants have the option of uploading a picture of the guest and assigning them a passcode that they need to give when they arrive. These two things are for a higher level of security and aren't required by the service to grant someone access. The service also has extensive logs which can be referenced if there ever is a question of what happened to my package or who was granted access during a certain time period. The service also serves tenants by giving them a method of reporting building problems to the doorman and having them relay the information to the Super or management company.
Whichever system you choose, both are high quality solutions that I'm sure your buyers will be happy to have. I would consult with the brokers that are tasked with selling the units and get their opinion on which system would provide you with more value based on other buildings in the area and your target market.
I actually have experience with all three systems, so perhaps I can offer some of my thoughts.
In terms of intercoms, the AiPhone has a better price point and can offer 90% of the features that the Unitone can provide. I don't think that currently it can do the call forwarding to a cell phone and I know that it can't display messages/notifications on its screen. Beyond those two points, both are functionally the same in that they allow someone in an apartment to see the person outside, talk to them, and buzz them into the building.
If I'm clear on your project's scope, you have 9 brownstones in a row with 3-4 units each. Both AiPhone and Unitone offer a digital scroll panel which lets guests browse through a list of the units and call them. AiPhone also has a direct button panel for smaller buildings, such as yours, where the tenant names are listed with buttons directly to the right of the name. In my experience, a button has always proven to be easier for delivery people to understand and use. People who speak limited english or who have poor eye sight may have problems reading the digital directory and understanding how it is used. The Unitone panel is a smaller form factor, but the AiPhone has an optional module where you can put instructions on how to use the system. With any extra space, you can also put a building logo or the building address.
I believe that both companies also offer the ability for a card reader to be installed in the front door intercom panel. This is nice for tenants because they don't have to fumble at night to find their keys on the street. It also is beneficial to the management company as most card access systems retain a transaction log which can be beneficial when there are people subletting illegally.
One thing that Unitone does not offer is a postal lock option. AiPhone sells a module which lets the USPS delivery person use their key at the intercom panel to unlock the door. You won't have to cut in a separate key box below the intercom for the mailman to open and retrieve the front door key from. I've found that those always tend to get damaged or vandalized.
The Unitone does offer a method for the Super to deliver a message to tenants via their intercom, but this option is geared towards a full time Super. I believe that there is a computer in the basement of each building that the Super logs into and uses to post the message to the intercoms in the building. For this project, you have 9 buildings which will make it a pain for the Super to repeat this process for each building. You also need a Super that's computer savvy, which isn't always the case. Although the feature looks nice as a developer, you have to consider whether the Super will actually use the system once you've moved onto the next project. If he doesn't, then the tenants won't be happy because they're not receiving the service and features that the broker probably sold them on.
As far as remotely granting access, both the Unitone and the Virtual Doorman are decent solutions. With the Unitone, the cost is less and there's no continuing service fee other than the phone line. The Virtual Doorman service has an installation fee as well as a monthly service fee which would need to be totaled up and put into your offering plan.
The problem of a cell phone call from the Unitone is that there's no video verification. If you buzz in a Fed Ex or UPS delivery person while you're away, there's the risk that it's not actually a delivery person that you're letting in. There's also the risk that instead of dropping off a package, they may take one that was delivered earlier that day. I'm also not sure how it works if there's a roommate situation. Let's say I'm living with a friend and I'm out for the weekend. She throws a party while I'm out of town. Everyone is enjoying the festivities and no one notices the intercom ring. The call gets forwarded to my cell phone and I have no idea of who the person is or what party they're talking about when they're asking me to buzz them in.
The Virtual Doorman service lets the management company or super call up and have notices sent directly to tenants via email and each tenant can be notified in the case of multiple people in one apartment. The system also has a live person verifying all deliveries and watching them as they take place. When a delivery is made or a guest is granted access, the tenant receives an email notification with the details. Tenants have the option of using a web portal, email or phone to let the service know of guests they are expecting. The tenants have the option of uploading a picture of the guest and assigning them a passcode that they need to give when they arrive. These two things are for a higher level of security and aren't required by the service to grant someone access. The service also has extensive logs which can be referenced if there ever is a question of what happened to my package or who was granted access during a certain time period. The service also serves tenants by giving them a method of reporting building problems to the doorman and having them relay the information to the Super or management company.
Whichever system you choose, both are high quality solutions that I'm sure your buyers will be happy to have. I would consult with the brokers that are tasked with selling the units and get their opinion on which system would provide you with more value based on other buildings in the area and your target market.
Posted by: KrisB at September 26, 2008 10:37 AM in response to Inside Third & Bond: Week 55