INDUSTRYNEWS
Access new opportunities with GSM
» JUST AS THE WAY THAT BUILDING
entrances have evolved over the decades,
the requirements of residents have also been
reassessed. When it comes to safety and security,
a peep hole in the door will no longer suffice,
and for apartment blocks, halls of residence, local
authority living spaces, and similar, being able to
see who is at the front door is a necessity, even
(or especially) if the resident is not at home.
Furthermore, for residents who have mobility
issues, being able to allow access to an entrance
without having to get up and answer the door
allows a greater sense of independence as well as
peace of mind.
It is not only the occupants who benefit
from GSM-based access control however,
facilities managers and site supervisors can
now manage and maintain remotely; no
more lost keys, no more waiting around for
workmen, no more updates or upkeep - it
can all be done from home or the office.
This was convenient before Covid-19 (if
you can remember that!) but nothing short
of necessary now that the ‘new normal’
has taken over. And while some restrictions
have been relaxed, local lockdowns still
loom over us, and winter will pose its
own challenges. So, for those who are
shielding, or in quarantine (that’s residents or
facility managers) there is no physical presence
required to grant access to long term users
(the residents themselves) and short term
users (carers, cleaners, contractors, etc.); even
emergency access.
GSM, WHAT IS IT ANYWAY?
With a name like Global System for Mobile
Communication, GSM sounds more like a
mobile phone device than an access control
system, and that’s exactly how it was first
used. In fact, nearly 80% of mobile phone users
across the globe already use GSM as their
primary network for placing wireless calls.
What is new, and potentially revolutionary
for our industry, however, is how GSM
technology can also be used in a wide range
of other applications – seemingly unrelated to
telecommunications. The property management
sector is one such example, with the latest
smart intercom and door access control
systems designed around this very technology.
At its core, GSM is a digital cellular
technology that transmits data such as voice
and video streams between devices. So, if a
lock and key is two tin cans on a piece of a
string, when it comes to access control GSM
is in essence two video phones; one at the
door and one in the hand of the resident.
As a wireless, digital system, this makes
plastic handsets and traditional wired access
devices redundant, yet allows residents the
convenience of answering the door via their
own smartphone or tablet, and permits
property professionals to update key fob data
and grant building access remotely too.
OPENING DOORS FOR INSTALLERS
We’ve established that GSM is the
perfect technology for access control, and
that Intratone’s portfolio of products will
revolutionise facility management of the
future, and enhance the safety and security of
So, when it comes to Intratone
access control, are you in or out?
intratone.uk.com
buildings, and their occupants. But what does it
mean for readers of Pro Installer?
The skill set required to become an
Intratone installer neatly ties in with
fenestration fitters who are already competent
and confident with door and window
hardware, security specialities and fire safety
fittings. Furthermore, as local authorities
and councils look to upgrade their existing
entrances or specification new structures,
GSM-based access control solutions will be
first on their shopping list. It’s not an if, it’s a
when.
Making sure you’re up to speed with GSM as
a concept, and Intratone’s intercoms, readers/
receivers, key cabinets, keypads, digital notice
boards, etc. should be a matter of priority for
installers. It will not only plug the gaps you may
have experienced from a lapse in trade over
the past few months but essentially futureproof
your career in hardware and security as we all
move from the mechanical to the digital. And
with free training available, either in person
or - you guessed it - remote, there’s no excuse
not to give it a go.
22 » SEP 2020 » CLEARVIEW-UK.COM