How Doorman works.

Four parts, one family phone.

Here is the path when you call an ordinary phone number.

1. Step 1

   A handset

   The phone you pick up. A compatible handset connects to the Brain over your home network.

   →

2. Step 2

   A home computer

   The Brain runs Doorman and your call filtering rules. It stays powered on in your home.

   →

3. Step 3

   Your internet connection

   Your router and internet connection carry calls between the Brain and your phone provider.

   →

4. Step 4

   A phone provider

   Your chosen service supplies a phone number and connects calls to ordinary outside numbers.

Incoming calls follow the path back toward your handset. The Brain applies your call filtering rules before ringing it. Calls between rooms in your home stay on your local network and do not need an outside phone provider.

Your phone now has a front desk.

The front desk is Doorman’s phone lobby: a welcome, a set of household rules, and a way for callers to reach the right handset.

• On your household’s list

  A matching number hears a welcome and rings through to your household.

  Welcome → ring

• Knows a family extension

  An unfamiliar caller hears the greeting, then enters an extension to ring a handset or group.

  Lobby → handset

• No extension entered

  For an unfamiliar caller, your rule ends the call, takes a message, or rings the house. Ending the call is the default.

  Goodbye by default

This is call filtering that runs on the Brain in your home, with no paid Doorman plan required. Caller ID can be faked, so a matching number is a routing shortcut rather than proof of who is calling. A caller with a valid extension can ring a handset, too.

Read the phone lobby guide ↗

Choose how to get started.

You supply working power, your home network and internet connection. For calls to ordinary numbers, you also choose a compatible phone provider, open its account and configure the connection to Doorman. Then choose your hardware route.

Keep the separate costs in view.

Hardware is one part of the budget. Outside phone service has its own charges; your internet connection and electricity are separate, too. Optional Doorman online plans and paid content are additional choices, not the service that supplies a phone number.

• Read the worked ownership-cost examples
• Estimate costs for your calling habits
• Understand optional Doorman plans

The Brain, handset and network equipment need power; calls through an internet phone provider also need working internet access. Review the provider and emergency-calling requirements for your setup. Optional cloud backups do not supply phone service or backup power.