Waleli GSM-doorbell hits version 2.0

When you're already using your cellphone to track your wild domesticated animals, keep your family safe, and even buy gadgetry, you might as well use it to let the butler in too, right? Waleli has revamped its GSM-doorbell apparatus, which allows pedestrians to "ring your mobile," so that a simple doorbell press phones the owner and allows for a full-fledged conversation to occur. After you've determined that the mystery caller should gain entry, you simply "enter a pincode" which triggers the system to unlock the house or open a garage door. New to version 2.0 is the ability to access the device remotely in order to create a virtual remote control; if you (or your significant other) gets locked out of the crib, the machine will recognize your phone number and release the latches for its master on command. While we aren't sure how much this incredulous convenience will cost you (or save you over the long haul), at least the GSM-doorbell allows for more important keys to occupy that overstuffed keyring.

[Via Textually]

[Scott @ Oct 9th 2006 10:42AM]

That actually sounds really cool if it actually works. Granted, I'm sure you could hack it up with a Laptop and some Hinges.

[disciple83 @ Oct 9th 2006 11:11AM]

That would inevitably trigger a little sob/whine out of people who aren't aware of the fact that the machine will be using your cellphone's precious non-unlimited landline minutes, which will lead to rollovers dimishing, etc. while the idea that I don't have to fumble for a housekey anymore when I can voicedial my home doorlocks is a cool idea, I leave the house very frequently, I would say a good 300-400 times a month, (yes, 10 times a day), and those 1 minute calls add up.

[Wonderboy @ Oct 9th 2006 11:19AM]

Too much potential for hacking... If a purely digital system is protecting my home, I'm a little worried. If anything I'd implement a system like this WITH the standard dead-bolt system, not in place of.

And what happens when there's a natural disaster (or man-induced disaster) and the local cell towers go down... are you locked out until your cell provider gets things back online?

[Ken @ Oct 9th 2006 11:36AM]

I thought caller-id could be spoofed?

But then I suppose the lock could be bumped anyway, so whatever.

[EBG @ Oct 9th 2006 11:36AM]

So if you lose your cellphone, you lose your house, too?

[Jono Cono @ Oct 9th 2006 11:59AM]

In and of itself this device is a pretty neat idea, almost better than biometric locks in the sense that this is more like an intercom/lock. The only downfall I could see is if that's the only thing you're going to rely on to get in and out of your house then what happens if you lose your phone or the battery dies? I suppose you can always hide a key to get in the old fashioned way!
http://www.jonocono.ca

[John Stracke @ Oct 9th 2006 12:06PM]

Um...what if there are two people living in the house? Whose cellphone rings?

[JCA @ Oct 9th 2006 12:14PM]

I was going to do this for an engineering design project many years ago, only using the landline or ethernet controller as the remote interface instead. Although, I only saw it as a way to tell someone "Hang on, I'm taking a dump" or "I can't come to the door....please leave the FedEx box behind the bushes." If this were to electronically control my door locks, I'd be a little wary too.

ALMOST ANYONE who needed to get in your home really bad (even if you're not there) would be trustworthy enough to have a set of keys to your house already me thinks. Sure there are exceptions but then again, there are exceptions for everything....that doesn't mean we need to willingly accomodate all of them.

[Anup @ Oct 9th 2006 1:38PM]

This technology already exists in many apartment complexes ....as teh one I lived in and am living in.....those outsiders want access to the building, need to dial the Apt # from teh intercom, which connects to the Apt owner's phone (cell or landline)....on press of one button, the door opens.....whats new in this?????

[wora69 @ Oct 9th 2006 1:57PM]

needs video call then i'll buy.

[jon @ Oct 9th 2006 2:44PM]

Here's what they should be making...a GSM keyring.
Bung a sim card in there, and your keys now have a phone number.

Lost your keys? Just phone 'em up.

This can't be hard can it? Any uber-geeks wanna make one for me?

[Annoula @ Oct 9th 2006 3:56PM]

I have to say being able to call my cell phone to get into my apartment building has saved my ass on numerous occasions. I see this being far more useful in a small business or for someone who gets a lot of deliveries.

[wontoncookie @ Oct 9th 2006 5:12PM]

WOW pink my favoite color.