Our building wants to upgrade the entry system. The one we have now is just an intercom and an electro-magnetic unlock. The building is from 1903 and the wiring for the intercom is probably from 1904, so what callers say is often unintelligible. The owners have voted to get a video system to make identification easier. The systems that have been offered by a number of companies are all Internet-based and use smartphones as the controller in the apartment. A system main is hardwired to an Internet connection, and the smartphone has an app that either allows it to access the system main by way of the Internet or to access a server somewhere in "the cloud." Rough details but that's basically what is involved.

I'm skeptical. I can see app problems with OS updates, Internet insecurity, system obsolescence, dependency on Verizon for connectivity (never a good idea) etc.

Anyone have this sort of system where they live or work? Anyone work in this field and have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!