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A comment on Hacking your apartment's electronic entry system.

Re:Hacking your apartment's electronic entry system by caryme on Thursday February 24, 2011 @02:22AM (#2257248)
I actually implemented this idea using Twilio almost a year ago and have been using it actively ever since. I give my close friends 4-digit PIN numbers to my condo. When someone dials my number in the directory, it first prompts them for a PIN. If they enter a valid PIN, it welcomes them by name (my friends love this) and unlocks the door. If they enter an invalid PIN or no PIN, Twilio rings my and both my roommates' cell phones and connects to whomever answers first.

I also can create one-time-use PINs and one-day-only PINs for parties or whatnot.

As an extra plus, I used to have a home phone because my intercom requires local phone numbers. Since I built my "doorman," I don't need it.

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Re:Hacking your apartment's electronic entry system by TimothyBurgess on Thursday February 24, 2011 @02:44AM (#2257285)
Any particular reason you haven't turned this into a startup?
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Re:Hacking your apartment's electronic entry system by caryme on Thursday February 24, 2011 @11:14AM (#2258511)
Mostly time at this point, but I also wasn't sure if there would be interest. I should have some more free time this spring... maybe I'll work to get an MVP out then? I'll let y'all know.
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Re:Hacking your apartment's electronic entry system by tastybites on Thursday February 24, 2011 @01:31PM (#2259173)
I would buy it! You could charge per-usage too, since most people don't have an unlimited stream of people coming to their apartment every month.

I'm not sure how the phone # allocation works but I imagine the biggest challenge is getting local #'s for people who don't have google voice or whatnot.

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Re:Hacking your apartment's electronic entry system by gkoberger on Thursday February 24, 2011 @01:14PM (#2259083)
I applied to YC with this exact idea, and didn't get in. Of course, there are a lot of factors- but I guess it was an idea they didn't love.

http://www.getdoorman.com/ (Not really coming soon anymore :) )

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Re:Hacking your apartment's electronic entry system by krmmalik on Thursday February 24, 2011 @06:00AM (#2257522)
I was going to ask the same question
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