The i-Bell allows you to answer your door regardless of where you are

Any particular device or product that is going to be worth its salt these days seem to have to carry the “smart” prefix,from smartphones to smart cars and smart homes. How about a smart doorbell like the i-Bell? The i-Bell camera basically works this way – it lets you check out who has just rung your doorbell, and you can speak to them directly on your phone without having to get up from the comfort of your lazy chair. Yup, the i-Bell is basically a video Wi-Fi doorbell that will allow homeowners to check out the person standing in front of their doorsteps, all without having to get up from your seat, chair, sofa or even bed unnecessarily. This £179.50 product is ideal to turn away unwanted guests, or you can simply let the newspaper delivery man know that his tips are in your mailbox, and to leave this evening’s edition of the paper in front of your doorsteps.

Ever heard your doorbell go, dropped what you’re doing rushed downstairs to open the door, only to find it’s an unwanted visitor?That’s a scenario one London-based company hopes will be a thing of the past with their i-Bell technology, a Wi-Fi video doorbell that can connect with your smartphone or tablet. By using a camera and connecting to the internet, the device will let you know who is at your door even if you’re out and about at work, the shops or elsewhere. To use the i-Bell, which is currently part of a Kickstarter campaign to raise £30,000 ($50,000), it is installed on your door like a normal bell and sits at face level. On the front is a button for visitors to activate the bell, and also a camera at the top. When a visitor presses the button the camera springs to life and calls the device it is synced with, which can be any Android, Apple, Windows and Blackberry smartphone or tablet, and also any PC. You can then choose to ‘answer’ the call with your chosen device and then speak to the person on their doorstep. If it’s a delivery, for example, the visitor could be asked to go drop it with a neighbour. Or if it’s a guest but you’re out of the house they could be asked to come and meet you somewhere. The camera isn’t two-way though, so the visitor won’t be able to see you. When it is released later this year, possibly November, the product will retail for £179.50 ($307).