A QR-based communication platform that replaces video doorbells
Web and mobile app solution development for linking QR codes to digital content and real-time communication.
About the Client
Our Client approached Altamira with a focused idea: reinvent the video doorbell. They aimed to remove the financial and technical barriers that prevent people from installing smart home devices, like hardware costs, difficult installations, and ongoing subscription fees. But as the project matured, so did the vision.
The client quickly realized that the same underlying idea - a scannable QR code enabling instant communication - could go far beyond the front door. From pet tags and parked cars to toolboxes and storage bins, anything could become a point of interaction. What began as a niche idea turned into a fully-fledged communication platform with wide-reaching use cases.
Challenge
Offer video doorbell functionality without the high cost, complex installation, or Wi-Fi dependency of traditional hardware devices. As the vision expanded, they needed a scalable, easy-to-use platform for linking QR codes to digital content and real-time communication.
Solution
Altamira developed an iOS mobile app, web interface, and admin panel. The app allows users to generate and manage QR codes, receive real-time notifications, and communicate via audio, video, or text. Guests can access all functionality via a browser. Additional features include multi-location support, delivery confirmations, and customizable contact cards.
Results
Eliminated the need for physical doorbell hardware while adding new use cases beyond home entry - like sharing contact info, tracking packages, or tagging personal items.
The client now has a portable, low-maintenance, scalable solution that works globally and is easy for anyone to set up and use.
Technologies
- iOS (Swift)
- Web (React)
- Backend (Node.js/Express)
- QR code generation and management tools
- Push notification system
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01
The Challenge
The initial business goal was to fill a clear gap in the market: to offer users the convenience of a video doorbell without the costly and complex installation, Wi-Fi dependency, or ongoing subscription fees. The client needed a fast, intuitive, and highly accessible mobile solution that could mimic the real-time interaction offered by physical video doorbells without any of the hardware.
Midway through development, the vision expanded: the solution aimed to turn any object into a digital interaction point. Users could now create QR codes linked to web pages, contact cards, and item-specific information. The platform needed to scale its feature set without compromising ease of use. During the project, we’ve faced some challenges. As the project began as a simple QR doorbell and grew into a platform with multiple use cases. We restructured parts of the app architecture mid-project to accommodate this change.
Also, the marketing component had to be integrated late-stage, requiring careful coordination with frontend and backend teams.
Finally, building a real-time notification system that worked globally, without depending on Wi-Fi, required careful backend engineering.
02
The Solution
To support the Client’s expanded vision, Altamira delivered a cross-functional product ecosystem in several stages. Our team provided full-cycle development across mobile (iOS), web, and backend systems, ensuring everything worked smoothlt together.
From day one, we took a product-thinking approach. We challenged assumptions, helped shape user flows, and ensured that even as complexity grew, the product remained simple for users to adopt.
Key functionality
Mobile App (iOS) – Owner-Side
- Post and manage QR codes linked to personal pages
- Real-time notifications when a guest scans the QR code
- Communication options: Accept/decline requests, respond via audio, video, or text
- “Do Not Disturb” mode for silence periods
- Delivery confirmation tools with shipper info, tracking, and proof-of-delivery image
- Guest identity verification
- Full activity history with photos and timestamps
- Ability to manage multiple locations and users under one account
- Voice-only answering mode for privacy
- “Contact Card” generation for professional or personal use
Web Interface – Guest-Side
- Dynamic browser-based page loaded upon QR scan
- Options to call, text, or leave a message (photo, voice, or video)
- Clean UI with no app installation required for the guest
Admin Panel
- User and QR code management
- Control over branding, privacy, and visibility settings
- Tracking and analytics for QR scans and interactions
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03
The Result
Our Client has successfully eliminated the need for costly, static hardware by offering a portable, software-first communication system. Each feature directly aligned with key business objectives:
| Feature | Business value delivered |
|---|---|
|
QR-based notifications |
Enabled instant communication from any location, without Wi-Fi reliance |
|
Audio/video/text guest interaction |
Provided doorbell-like functionality with user privacy controls |
|
Multi-user, multi-location support |
Allowed Client to scale across households and business properties |
|
Guest identity verification |
Increased security for owners and built trust in interactions |
|
Admin panel |
Gave the Client full control and monitoring over the platform |
Altamira helped transform a bold idea of targeting a niche need into a scalable platform with broad applications. With a lightweight, mobile-first approach, we enabled the Client to launch a product that rethinks how people interact with the world around them – securely, affordably, and flexibly.
