Knowledge Base › GuestView

What is GuestView and how does it work?

Nimbio’s built-in video intercom. Visitors scan a QR code or tap an NFC tag, and it opens a video call to a resident, a browser-based entry code, or — where the community has enabled Number-Verified Access — a self-verify phone-number option. No app, no hardware camera at the gate.

For: Residents For: Administrators Category: GuestView & Delivery

GuestView touches both sides of a property — this overview is written for both residents and property managers/admins. If you want the resident-only or guest-only version, see the related articles below.

What is GuestView?

GuestView is Nimbio’s built-in video intercom system. Visitors at the gate scan a QR code or tap an NFC tag, which opens a secure resident directory in their own phone’s browser. From there they select who they’re visiting — the resident gets a text message with a link to start a video call, one-way by default (two-way if the resident turns on their own camera) — or they can enter a time-limited access code if one has already been given to them. On gates where the community has enabled Number-Verified Access, a visitor with no code can also verify their own phone number and let themselves in, with no resident involved. No camera hardware is required at the gate.

How does it work without a camera at the gate?

The visitor’s own smartphone camera is used, but the call itself starts on the resident’s end. When a visitor scans the QR code or taps the NFC tag and selects who they’re visiting, the resident receives a text message with a secure link — tapping it is what starts the video call, streamed from the visitor’s phone camera to the resident’s browser. It’s one-way by default (resident sees the visitor, not the reverse), with two-way available if the resident turns on their own camera. There’s no hardware to install at the gate, no camera to maintain, and no vandalism risk from an exposed screen.

Three ways a visitor reaches the directory

All three open the same browser-based resident directory on the visitor’s own phone.

QR / short-code link

Scanning the posted QR code opens a short link tied to that gate.

NFC tap

Tapping a phone on the NFC tag opens the directory automatically.

Direct directory link

A link shared directly with the visitor opens the same directory.

Once there: ring a resident, open with a code or tap, or verify a phone number

From the directory, there are three real ways a visitor gets in.

A. Ring a resident

The visitor browses or searches the directory and selects who they’re visiting — no login required. The resident then gets a text message with a secure link; tapping it is what starts the browser-based video call (one-way by default, two-way if the resident turns on their own camera), showing the live video and letting them open the gate from inside the call. Selecting a home texts every accepted member of that home at once — whoever taps the link first takes the call.

B. Open directly

An NFC tap by someone who already holds a digital key opens the gate automatically. A visitor who’s been given a time-limited access code in advance can enter it in the directory to open the gate immediately, without placing a call.

C. Number-Verified Access: verify a phone number

On gates where the community has turned it on, a visitor with no key or code verifies their phone number with a texted one-time code, and the gate opens — no resident or advance code involved. The first entry needs no name on file; later entries ask for one. Scan-only gates additionally require an NFC tap to complete the open. This is community- and per-gate-controlled — it’s off by default, unless a property manager has explicitly enabled it, so a property that wants tighter control over who enters can simply leave it off. Because every entry is tied to a verified phone number (and, from a repeat visit on, a name) rather than an untraceable shared key, it also gives the property a much clearer record of who actually came and went than trying to trace a visitor back through whichever resident shared a key with them.

Can GuestView work as a community directory?

Yes. GuestView supports a directory mode where visitors browse a list of residents by name and request access without knowing a specific unit number. The selected resident gets a text message to start the video call and can choose to open the gate or ignore the request.

Can an admin control whether a resident appears in the directory?

Yes. Residents can opt themselves out of the public directory from their own Directory Preferences, but a manager can also override this directly from the Community Manager portal — useful right after a move-out, or when a resident has asked to be hidden but hasn’t updated the setting themselves yet.

Go to Members, select the resident, and toggle Hidden from Directory on or off. This is separate from revoking the resident’s access entirely — see Revoking a Key, Disabling Access, Move-Outs for that.

Frequently asked questions

Does the visitor need to download an app to use GuestView? +

No. GuestView works entirely through the visitor’s mobile browser — no app download, no account, no registration. They scan the QR code or tap the NFC tag and the directory opens automatically.

Can I answer a GuestView call when I’m away from home? +

Yes — this is one of GuestView’s most useful features. The notification reaches you wherever you are. Whether you’re at the office, running errands, or on vacation, you can see your visitor and open the gate from anywhere in the world.

Is the video call recorded? +

GuestView is a live video stream — one-way by default, or two-way if the resident turns on their own camera — and it is not recorded or stored. All gate entry events are logged (who was granted access and when), but the video itself is not retained after the call ends.

What is Number-Verified Access? +

Number-Verified Access — called “GuestView Entry” in the Community Manager portal — is an opt-in feature (the button visitors tap is labeled “Get me in”) that lets a visitor with no key open an eligible gate by verifying their own phone number, without ringing a resident or using an access code. A property manager enables it community-wide and chooses which gates allow it, with optional hours restrictions, so a property that wants tighter control can simply leave it off. Every attempt is logged.