CellGate’s Watchman™ visitor management and access control products are installed at many single-family homes, multi-family homes, and commercial properties across the country. All of them come with a unique capability called Voice Mail Intelligence (VMI), a proprietary feature that only CellGate currently offers. Available in both wired internet and cellular connectivity, this innovative telephone entry system technology revolutionizes how visitors connect with residents and property occupants.
How Does Voice Mail Intelligence Work?
When a visitor arrives at a Watchman gate call box and presses the “Call” button, the system can contact up to 9 unique phone numbers, organized in groups of 3.
What is a practical example of how this works?
Example Scenario
Consider a household with two parents, two teenagers, and grandparents living together. Their 9-number call list might look like this:
First Group:
1. Mom’s cell
2. Dad’s cell
3. Home landline
Second Group:
4. Dad’s work
5. Oldest teenager’s cell
6. Second teenager’s cell
Third Group:
7. Grandmother’s cell
8. Grandparents’ home landline
9. Grandfather’s cell
Call Group Functionality
When a visitor arrives to visit the family, the first three numbers in the designated call group are simultaneously called. If anyone in this initial group answers, they can screen and grant access to the visitor if they wish. The remaining numbers in the call group (#4 thru #9 listed above) are not dialed.
However, if the first three calls go unanswered and reach voicemail, the Voice Mail Intelligence feature understands this. It then knows to automatically begin dialing the next set of numbers in the call group (#4-#6, then #7-#9, if necessary)
Primary Benefits of Voice Mail Intelligence
The two primary benefits of Voice Mail Intelligence are:
1. Increased Probability of Reaching Someone: VMI significantly increases the likelihood of reaching someone live who can grant access by automatically progressing through the call group list when initial contact numbers are unavailable.
2. Reduced Visitor Congestion: VMI also minimizes instances of stranded visitors at the Watchman gate call box—preventing potential traffic buildup at gates. This can be especially problematic during peak times at both multi-family and commercial properties.
Competitive Advantage of Voice Mail Intelligence
Unlike most gate telephone entry systems that can only dial one number per resident, CellGate’s Watchman product line, with its Voice Mail Intelligence feature, offers a more robust solution to visitor management. With nine numbers and Voice Mail Intelligence call routing, Watchman systems dramatically improve the chances of successfully connecting visitors with the property’s occupants they are trying to reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Voice Mail Intelligence work with gate telephone entry systems?
Voice Mail Intelligence (VMI) is a feature on Watchman® gate telephone entry systems that automatically routes calls from visitors to any designated resident telephone number. When a visitor calls from the gate, the system can intelligently manage the call flow, allowing residents to receive notifications and respond remotely without being physically present at the property.
What makes Voice Mail Intelligence different from traditional apartment callbox systems?
Unlike basic apartment callbox systems that simply connect calls to a single telephone number, Voice Mail Intelligence adds smart features like call routing to multiple numbers, voicemail override capabilities, and remote access control. This allows residents to manage visitor access even when they’re away from home, providing greater flexibility and security.
Can Voice Mail Intelligence handle calls to multiple family members simultaneously?
Yes, VMI can be configured to call multiple family members’ cell phones in sequence or simultaneously when a visitor requests access. This ensures that someone is always reachable, and any authorized family member can grant access to visitors through the CellGate Watchman system.
How does the Voice Mail feature work when residents miss calls from visitors?
Voice Mail Intelligence recognizes when the number it calls goes to voicemail, automatically trying the next number in the call group until it reaches someone to grant entry. Instead of stalling when a call goes to voicemail, VMI moves on until a call is answered or all numbers have been tried. No other competitor system has this capability.
The information provided here was based off research and solutions available at the time this post was written.