Intercoms have become a necessity for households and commercial buildings. So how have they evolved, and what trends can be expected for this year? This article takes a look.
Intercoms have become a necessity for households and commercial buildings. So how have they evolved, and what trends can be expected for this year? This article takes a look.
Intercoms serve as a key access control/building entry solution, allowing residents to see who is visiting and then open the door for the visitor. This, plus other technological advances, has triggered strong demand for intercom solutions, especially in the residential sector.
“In recent years, we have seen a huge increase in the importance of the residential vertical. The reason is the electrification of access control in residential properties, especially multi-family buildings – not only in high-end projects, but increasingly in mid-level buildings too,” said Michal Kratochvíl, CEO of 2N.
An increase in demand has led to growth as well. According to a Market Research Future report, the global door intercom market was valued at US$2.2 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $3.7 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 7.92 percent.
Evolution through the years
Over the years, intercoms have evolved from mostly audio-based analog devices. Just like
access control, today’s intercoms have increasingly migrated to IP. More and more, intercoms have become video-based as well.
“IP technology has taken access control into a completely new era. In 2N, we call it ‘Access Control 3.0’ – with lock and key devices representing the first revolution in access control and RFID cards the second – because it has transformed everything and ushered in fundamentally new ways of doing things,” Kratochvíl said. “Video has also been a big step forward, and full-HD video intercoms are now a standard part of modern access control solutions. It’s primarily because of the security benefits of being able to see who is at the door, and safety features like motion detection are also associated with video.”
Trends to be expected
That said, what will be some of the intercom trends we can expect in 2023? Below we take a look.
Integration into home automation
One trend is integrating intercoms into the homeowner’s home automation system. “As more and more people start to appreciate the full potential of IP answering units, they are being transformed into the central control panel, regulating everything from the lights, air-conditioning and music system through to the garage door and lawn irrigation system. IP intercoms are also being connected with security systems to deter intruders,” Kratochvíl said.
Remote control and monitoring
With IP, the user is no longer limited by space; they can check and buzz the door open from anywhere with their smart device. “We are hoping to be at the forefront of this trend with the My2N app, which is coming out very soon. It will allow users to open their door and monitor their entrance from anywhere – so that, for example, couriers can drop parcels inside when they are out of the country,” Kratochvíl said. “By connecting the IP intercom to an external camera, residents will also be able to check up on any other areas they need – perhaps garages, outbuildings or the area surrounding the home.”
Cybersecurity
As intercoms migrate more and more towards IP, they are inevitably subject to cyber threats. As such advanced
cybersecurity features are built into intercoms today and in the future.
“With intercoms, the five most urgent threats are man-in-the-middle attacks, password / dictionary attacks, unauthorized connection to a LAN network, unauthorized views of the intercom camera, and malware attacks against mobile devices. The best intercoms are specifically designed to deal with these threats, incorporating multiple layers of protection and have firmware that is constantly updated,” Kratochvíl said.
He added that integrators and installers also have a very important role to play. “This is why we recently published seven pieces of best practice when it comes to cybersecurity and a Hardening Guide which explains how to configure 2N products in a truly secure way. If integrators and installers follow these rules, they know for sure that their customers will be protected from the risk of cyberattacks,” Kratochvíl said.
Friendly to users, including the disabled
Meanwhile, technology advances have given rise to intercoms that cater to all types of users, including those with disabilities. “We recently updated the firmware for the 2N IP Style which, among other things, allows bi-directional video. This means that visitors can see the receptionist they’re calling directly on the intercom’s display. This may seem like a small thing, but it makes a huge difference for hearing impaired people as it enables them to communicate using sign language,” Kratochvíl said.