The EZPass of Doormen
The New York Observer | By Bonnie Kavoussi From Ocala, Fla., and Unity, Maine, the fate of New York doormen may be decided. The two towns headquarter the remote command centers of the Virtual Doorman, a technology that, as the name suggests, acts as a building’s doorman in everything but a warm body. Plus, it’s cheaper: $9,000 to $17,000 for installation, maintenance extra, while a real, live doorman might run a building $80,000 annually.
Ding Dong the Doorman’s Dead!
New York Post | By Sarah Ryley It’s the rise of the cyborg doorman. Cash-strapped developers are trying to save bucks and lure buyers with lower common charges by installing “virtual doormen” – staffers sitting in command centers as far away as Florida who can buzz guests and deliveries into buildings at a fraction of the cost of a regular doorman. One Manhattan-based company, Virtual Doorman, saw its sales jump last quarter· with 10 new buildings, its biggest quarterly increase since· starting in Cyberdoorman, based in The Bronx, said business could double this year to 76 buildings.