Replacing an Enterphone: modern video intercoms for BC buildings
For strata councils, property managers and building owners in Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria and across BC.
The quick answer
In BC, “Enterphone” has become the everyday word for a lobby buzzer that calls a resident’s phone over a phone line. A modern video intercom calls residents in an app with video, lets them open the door from anywhere, logs every entry, and lets the manager update the directory online. The door lock and often the wiring at the door can stay; the panel and the phone line are what change.
Signs it’s time to replace it
Problems residents notice
- Residents without a landline can’t be reached, or calls go to the wrong number
- No video, so people buzz in strangers
- Calls drop or the speaker is hard to hear
- Couriers can’t get in to deliver
Problems managers notice
- Updating the directory is slow or done by hand
- No record of who let whom in
- Parts are hard to find and repairs keep coming back
- A phone line bill for the panel
Old Enterphone vs modern video intercom
| Old Enterphone | Modern video intercom | |
|---|---|---|
| How it calls | Rings the resident’s phone over a phone line. | A video call in the resident’s app; many systems can also ring a phone number as a backup. |
| Video | Usually none. | Residents see the visitor before opening the door. |
| Directory | Changed at the panel or through the provider. | Updated online by the manager, from a browser or phone. |
| Entry records | Few or none. | A log of every entry, often with a photo. |
| Deliveries | Couriers buzz random suites. | Delivery access options, and links to parcel lockers. |
| Connection | A phone line. | Internet or cellular, with backup power designed in. |
What stays and what changes
The door, the lock and the door release usually stay, and the existing cable to the panel can often be reused or replaced with little disruption. The old panel and its phone line are removed. Residents download an app; people without a smartphone can usually be set up with a phone-number backup.
We plan the swap so the door stays secure throughout, and set up the resident directory before the new panel goes live.
ButterflyMX or 1VALET?
We install and fully support both. ButterflyMX is a cloud video intercom focused on the front door, deliveries and visitor access; 1VALET combines the intercom with a wider smart building platform for residents and managers. Read ButterflyMX vs 1VALET for the full comparison.
Strata decisions
Replacing an Enterphone changes common property and has a cost, so check your bylaws and whether it needs council approval or an owners’ vote. Our BC strata camera guide explains how votes and privacy rules work for strata buildings. Not legal advice.
Ready to replace your Enterphone?
We’ll look at the door, the wiring and how residents use it today, then give you a written quote.
Intercoms in BC: Video intercom in KelownaKelownaVancouverVictoriaNanaimoKamloopsPenticton. See also video intercom and replacing an old intercom
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
We repair and take over cameras, access control, intercoms and alarms installed by other companies, when your current provider has fallen short.
Questions
What is an Enterphone?
Enterphone is a brand name, but in BC it’s become the everyday word for any lobby intercom that calls a resident’s phone so they can buzz a visitor in.
Can we keep the wiring?
Often, yes. The cable to the door panel and the door release can usually be reused. We check during the site walk.
Do residents need a smartphone?
Most residents use an app, but many systems can also ring a regular phone number, so people without a smartphone can still answer.
Will we still need a phone line?
Usually not. Modern intercoms connect over the internet or cellular, so the panel’s phone line can often be cancelled.
Does it work for couriers?
Yes. Video intercoms have delivery access options and can work with parcel lockers, so couriers don’t buzz random suites.
Do you do this in Alberta too?
Yes. We replace old buzzer and phone-line intercoms across Alberta and BC, from our offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna.
Do we get admin access?
Yes. The building gets admin access and full documentation, so it isn’t tied to one company.
More answers: Video intercom questionsGlossary: video intercommobile credential
Get an Enterphone replacement quote
Tell us about the building and the current intercom. We’ll follow up to book a site walk.
Call and a real person answers, 24/7 for emergencies.