Buzr, a New York City-based consumer electronics startup, has launched Buzr Pro, a smart home device that integrates into buildings’ existing intercom systems and connects to users’ phones.
Once installed and connected to Buzr’s app, a resident will be immediately notified when a package arrives or when someone is at their door. Buzr Pro was designed to replace outdated apartment access systems (buzzers/intercoms) by only requiring the user to install the Buzr Pro smart device hardware into the individual apartment or condo wall unit.
Buzr Pro Replaces Legacy Intercoms
It is estimated that more than 2.5 million apartments in New York City – and 250 million apartments globally – have building entry intercom systems that were built on 1800s technology. These legacy intercom systems are largely why one in three packaged in NYC go undelivered to residents on the first attempt. These old intercom systems lack the safety, support, and control necessary for residents to observe and protect property.
The Buzr system is universally compatible with more than 2,000 apartment building intercom systems. Installation can be performed by residents themselves or through the company’s installer network, alleviating expensive and disruptive setup challenges. Additionally, landlords save thousands of dollars through the technology, while giving the original intercoms a modern aesthetic – raising the perceived value of their real estate investments.
How the Buzr Pro App Works
Along with its easy hardware implementation, Buzr Pro’s app allows users to talk and listen through their phone, while also featuring doorbell notifications, virtual keys, service provider integrations, a built-in thermometer, audio log history, and multi-user support. The app is able to keep a record of intercom calls, as well as alert the landlord of suspicious activity, such as shoulder surfing. The app also logs door opens and virtual keys, something that legacy systems had no way of tracking.
Certain cities like New York set building temperature regulations during colder months. Buzr is able to compare indoor to outdoor temperature with its connected thermometer, alerting tenants if they are being heated outside the recommended range and alerting landlords if they are overheating their units, saving money on their heating bill and potential fines.
“The idea for the Buzr Pro stemmed from a personal pain that I was having as a New Yorker,” commented Buzr CEO and Co-Founder, Tony Liebel. “We live in an extremely high-tech, fast-paced and costly rent environment as New Yorkers, yet we are still dealing with intercom systems from hundreds of years ago that cause a myriad of issues. Buzr Pro was made to simplify life in the big city.”
Company History
Buzr was co-founded by Liebel and Jeremy Walker who met at Cornell Tech. In May 2020, it was one of four student companies that won the highly competitive Cornell Tech Startup Awards and received $100,000 in pre-seed funding to pursue their startups after graduation. Along with the funds, the company received a co-working space at Cornell and access to a support team of industry leaders and executives in computer science and engineering.
The company is currently running a preorder special for 20 percent off the Buzr Pro. The Buzr app will also be available for download from the Apple or Google Play app stores.
Buzr Pro’s anticipated shipping date is Winter 2022. Preorder the product here.
