Updates wayyy too often
Our company has one entrance that requires us to use this app to open the door. Don’t understand why this app needs an update at least once per week. They should have different versions of the app so that customers, like our company, who have basic requirements do not need to suffer having constantly update the app. Our hardware is likely to never change unless it breaks.
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It’s ok
Would be way better if it worked with Apple Wallet to store key cards like HID. Therefore I wouldn’t have to continually share location and Bluetooth for Alta open and use Express Mode via Apple Pay
Functionless app for many phones & bad customer service
This app seems to outsource to people who are totally unconcerned you can’t get into parts of your building and they seem to be from out of the country. My complex changed the garage gate settings and now I’m unable to open just that door without physically getting out of my car and walking up to the reader. You can’t even select within the app to open the door, no matter how many times you press the button. On top of that, they’ve gotten rid of the feature in their app that lets you report an error to somebody, probably because they’ve grown tired of people giving them feedback about how badly their app works. Clearly they’re fleecing apartment complexes convincing them to waste money on an app that only half functions. Absolute joke of a company who are totally unresponsive to users needs for something as important as literally being able to access your building.
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Finding the hardest way
Where to start with this?
Probably best to begin with the fact that the app hardly ever succeeds in unlocking a door on the first try.
It asks for infinite permissions, from ones that make sense (Bluetooth and local network), to ones that really don’t (always-on location and my motion/fitness data). All this to is ostensibly to try (and rarely succeed) at guessing if I’m near a door reader that has an NFC reader built into it. You know the readers have NFC built in, because Apple Wallet opens when you wave your phone near the reader in a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to get the door to open.
So why don’t they add a card to Apple Wallet and use the NFC functionality that’s literally meant for this kind of thing? Who knows, but they don’t. And so every time I come up to a door, I have to get my phone out, open the app and pray that it works this time. All because they tried to find their own solution to a problem that already had one.
Additionally, the Apple Watch app only works if my phone is nearby and has the app currently open. That’s not super helpful. The nice thing about the watch is normally that I can leave my phone behind! But now I can’t go for a walk without my phone since I won’t be able to get back in.
Honestly this app has given me a whole new appreciation for metal keys.
Probably best to begin with the fact that the app hardly ever succeeds in unlocking a door on the first try.
It asks for infinite permissions, from ones that make sense (Bluetooth and local network), to ones that really don’t (always-on location and my motion/fitness data). All this to is ostensibly to try (and rarely succeed) at guessing if I’m near a door reader that has an NFC reader built into it. You know the readers have NFC built in, because Apple Wallet opens when you wave your phone near the reader in a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to get the door to open.
So why don’t they add a card to Apple Wallet and use the NFC functionality that’s literally meant for this kind of thing? Who knows, but they don’t. And so every time I come up to a door, I have to get my phone out, open the app and pray that it works this time. All because they tried to find their own solution to a problem that already had one.
Additionally, the Apple Watch app only works if my phone is nearby and has the app currently open. That’s not super helpful. The nice thing about the watch is normally that I can leave my phone behind! But now I can’t go for a walk without my phone since I won’t be able to get back in.
Honestly this app has given me a whole new appreciation for metal keys.
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Needs work, brand consistency and straight forward privacy info
App is flaky. Does NOT open doors reliably via bluetooth with known good phone — sometimes inches only, sometimes feet. And you never know. End up giving up and going back to fobs. So, whats the point if app is unreliable in basic use?
Company branding is a MESS, which gets in way of USE. Three changes since HOA installed. Really. Stop with the brand baloney from marketing and make the darn app reliable and ALWAYS under the same name as first installed. Users could care less about corporate name baloney, but do want app to work.
App is also scary in its privacy settings. I can sense even from the disclosures co is including, users don't trust it not to scrape location data when not needed. How about a NON happy talk email to users not in legalese explaining how privacy really works with your app and ANY third party OR your use for ANY non- strictly necessary access control?
Company branding is a MESS, which gets in way of USE. Three changes since HOA installed. Really. Stop with the brand baloney from marketing and make the darn app reliable and ALWAYS under the same name as first installed. Users could care less about corporate name baloney, but do want app to work.
App is also scary in its privacy settings. I can sense even from the disclosures co is including, users don't trust it not to scrape location data when not needed. How about a NON happy talk email to users not in legalese explaining how privacy really works with your app and ANY third party OR your use for ANY non- strictly necessary access control?
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Needs to be more streamlined
This app does what it needs to do. But after using GateWise for some years, what Avigilon Alta is missing is simplicity.
This app forces you to tap to confirm if you want to really open the gate. This is a minor detail but one that needs to go away. I am not going to police who enters my complex. My iphone is usually on the mount and opens the app automatically when I go near my gate. GateWise had 1 simple button on the screen for easy access. Avigilon has too much going on forcing me to pay attention to my app while I’m driving up to it.
My gate opens at less than lightning speed so I usually try and time it from a distance away so I’m not sitting waiting and backing up traffic. That’s my complex’s issue, not app related. But this app really could be better because the functionality is there. It just needs to be slimmed down.
This app forces you to tap to confirm if you want to really open the gate. This is a minor detail but one that needs to go away. I am not going to police who enters my complex. My iphone is usually on the mount and opens the app automatically when I go near my gate. GateWise had 1 simple button on the screen for easy access. Avigilon has too much going on forcing me to pay attention to my app while I’m driving up to it.
My gate opens at less than lightning speed so I usually try and time it from a distance away so I’m not sitting waiting and backing up traffic. That’s my complex’s issue, not app related. But this app really could be better because the functionality is there. It just needs to be slimmed down.
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Poor Architecture, Privacy, and Usability
I am frustrated that the Alta Team declines to support Apple Homekey or equivalent. It’s very frustrating as an iPhone user that I have to give Alta always-on background location even when I’m away from the office (and Apple notifies me that Alta is getting my location even hundreds of miles from the office). Very strange and also battery intensive.
They consistently blame Apple for not yielding to Alta’s architecture (which is unrealistic) instead of being accountable to their customers and supporting basic functionalities. Alta is clearly Anti-Privacy and I’m concerned that user data sales is core to their business model. TLDR; Alta / Openpath either gobbles up your battery & privacy or is very annoying to use.
The Alta Team did not address any of these concerns adequately over email. In fact, they punted the questions.
They consistently blame Apple for not yielding to Alta’s architecture (which is unrealistic) instead of being accountable to their customers and supporting basic functionalities. Alta is clearly Anti-Privacy and I’m concerned that user data sales is core to their business model. TLDR; Alta / Openpath either gobbles up your battery & privacy or is very annoying to use.
The Alta Team did not address any of these concerns adequately over email. In fact, they punted the questions.
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Can’t give bt permission
Keeps asking for bt permission but there is no way to authorize
Good App… Needs Car Play
I like this app. It works and it’s easy. If the devs can add Apple Car Play access so that I could use it directly on my truck’s infotainment system to open our parking gate … then we’re looking at a perfect app.
Needs More Features
This app gets 4/5 stars. I live in a community that is 100% Alta Open and keyless. It would be a HUGE improvement if 1) I could use my cellular Apple Watch as a key instead of having to carry around my phone. And 2) if there was support for iOS widgets. Having to fumble for my phone gets annoying and then having to open the app to open my door just adds steps.
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