Control4 Launches Whole-House Intercom With Smart Doorbell Functionality

Control4 bowed a multitasking intercom that’s said to improve on the smart doorbell by providing access control, video surveillance, security and interactive communication. Control4 Intercom Anywhere, described as “caller-id for the front door,” allows homeowners to ignore unwanted calls, answer calls from a guest or accept a delivery remotely. A differentiator from other smart doorbells is support for customizable programming, allowing a customer to use a smartphone to see and talk to visitors at the door and also turn on lights, unlock the door, open the gate or garage, disarm or trigger the alarm and perform other actions enabled by a Control4 automation system, said the company. Within the home, family members can make calls to and from Control4 touch screens or place a call to a family member’s mobile phone from a touch screen. A user could dial all touch screens for a video call to make a fast connection, it said, and a one-touch broadcast feature enables a whole-house announcement to connected devices.