Answers for your questions.
How does Tiny Doorman work?
When you sign up to get your Tiny Doorman, you will be assigned a phone number to give to your building manager to list in your intercom. When the intercom dials out, it will dial the Tiny Doorman servers instead of your cell phone directly. You can send virtual key codes to guests you know and trust through the app. Tiny Doorman verifies the entrant’s key and allows access, or in the case of an unexpected visitor without a virtual key, routes the call to the alternate phone number that the user specifies to grant manual access.
How is Tiny Doorman installed?
No intercom hardware or software changes are needed to install Tiny Doorman. You will be assigned a phone number when you join the service, and you'll ask your landlord or property manager to change your intercom listing to that number (we'll get you started with a suggested email to send). Once the intercom listing is changed, your Tiny Doorman will be active and you may start granting safe, convenient access to guests.
Is Tiny Doorman safe?
Tiny Doorman was built to be safe and reliable, and immune to brute force hackings. Building doors are currently vulnerable- the proliferation of physical key copies, combined with the inability to verify the identity of someone requesting access at the intercom makes them hard to secure. With Tiny Doorman, you know who is entering and when, as each expected guest has a unique entry code. Unlike with physical keys, each entry is tracked, and a virtual key can be revoked or set to expire at any time.
What if someone shows up without a virtual key?
If someone without a key dials your listing, they are prompted to press "0" to request a call to the alternate phone number specified in your account. If the visitor enters an incorrect key, or does not press "0" or enter a key within 10 seconds, a call to your alternate phone number is automatically initiated.
What do I need to use Tiny Doorman?
Tiny Doorman requires that you have a working intercom system that can dial out to external phone numbers (such as a cell phone). It must also have a working keypad. Most intercom systems will work with Tiny Doorman, though some (such as Viking) have incompatible hardware. To verify that your intercom is compatible, send a picture of the intercom to support@tinydoorman.com, or tweet a picture to @tiny_doorman
Future versions may work on intercoms without keypads or with incompatible keypads, such as Viking brand intercoms; sign up for our email list to stay updated. Some intercoms have custom settings that may interfere with Tiny Doorman operation- if Tiny Doorman is not working as expected after installation, please contact support.
Will Tiny Doorman affect other resident's intercom experience?
When you install Tiny Doorman for your intercom listing, no one else in the building is affected, nor is the intercom changed in any way.
What happens if the Tiny Doorman system goes down?
The Tiny Doorman system has been designed robustly and should function at any time where your intercom is functional. If the system malfunctions, the intercom itself is not affected and all other listings will continue to work, as will the physical door key.
What if my intercom requires a local area code?
Some intercoms require local area codes, as they do not have long distance calling plans. By default, Tiny Doorman will supply you with a local area code, or the closest to that local area code that is available. For example, the 415 area code supply for San Francisco is exhausted, so instead the 628 SF area code overlay will be generated. However, the definition of "local" on the non-long-distance phone plans is complex, and even a number with a local area code can sometimes be considered "local long distance". If your landlord or property manager is unable to use your generated Tiny Doorman number, just contact support and we will refund your account.
