24 | JUNE 2020
Access Control Solutions
STREAMLINING PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT WITH INTRATONE
Transitioning from analogue processes
to digital is universally acknowledged
as an effective way of improving both
operational and cost efficiencies. The
property management sector is one
area in particular which could reap
significant benefits by implementing
more digital ways of working.
By harnessing some accessible
technologies, including
GSM – which was originally
created for mobile communications,
and applying them to
block management, the switch
to digital is straightforward,
without the need for significant
investment in infrastructure
or added resources. Plus, with
social distancing measures still
in place in the UK at the time of
writing, working remotely is not
merely an option but a necessity
for many of us. Technologies
that not only facilitate this
remote working, but enhance
it too – bringing time and cost
savings for example – can truly
drive the property management
sector forward.
What is GSM
technology?
GSM, or the Global System for
Mobile Communications, isn’t in
itself a new technology. A digital
cellular technology that transmits
data such as voice and
video streams to other devices,
it is the foundation for mobile
phone data networks, allowing
users to both make and receive
calls. 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. As a completely
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.
‘
GSM technology can be harnessed for property access
control systems for quick and easy communication,
automatic updates and as a cost-effective alternative
to traditional hardware-based, wired systems
’
The inner workings
of GSM
Several existing technologies
allow devices to connect
remotely and allow for data
transfer between ma-chines
– from RFID and Bluetooth, to
GSM, WiFi and satellites, each
method has its own merits for
specific applications. Using
Time Division Multiple Access
technology, or TDMA, GSM
works by assigning time slots to
multiple conversation streams,
alternating them in sequence
and switching between each
conversation in very short intervals.
During these intervals,
devices can transmit compressed,
digitised information
from one to the other – such as
a call from a contractor who is
seeking to access your property.
In order for the network to know
which users are connected,
each device uses a Subscriber
Identification Module card – or
a SIM card.
By linking multiple systems
together, GSM allows both
telecommunication and remote
control across several units –
with extensive global coverage.
In this way, GSM technology
can be harnessed for property
access control systems for
quick and easy communication,
automatic updates and as a
cost-effective alternative to
traditional hardware-based,
wired systems.
How does GSM
technology apply to
property management?
By implementing SIM cards
and GSM capabilities into
access control systems, both
residents and property professionals
can benefit from more
streamlined, intuitive block
management – allowing property
access to be granted via
mobile phone calls, no matter
where they are. As an alternative
to the more traditional
radio-frequency technology,
which is reliant on the distance
between the device and the
handset, GSM technology’s
unlimited range makes property
management infinitely more
practical.
As no wires or physical handsets
are required, GSM technology
is ideal for retrofit installations.
Plus, GSM-enabled access
devices benefit from a much
faster installation with minimal
disturbance to residents, as
there is no need to enter each
individual property to connect
receivers or handsets. With
minimal hardware and innovative
software, there is also little
need for ongoing maintenance,
and many issues can be fixed
remotely by the manufacturer.
GSM technology can also be
linked to existing remote or off-