Switching from a Porter intercom
Porter call boxes handled staff paging with wired lights and chimes. AltoSignal does the same job with native apps on the devices you already own, with clear who · what · where messages, message history, and read receipts.
Porter intercoms, along with similar call-box systems like The Communicator and Comlite, were wired light-and-chime units mounted outside each operatory. They did the job, but they were expensive to install, fixed in place, and hard to change once the walls were wired. When a Porter unit finally fails or a practice remodels, most teams want something they can update themselves and run on hardware they already have.
AltoSignal is that replacement: the same "signal the team" idea, rebuilt as software.
| AltoSignal | Porter intercom | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A software app (works in any browser) | Wired light & chime call boxes |
| Runs on | Native apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire, Mac, and Linux, plus a browser version for any computer. A Windows app is on the way. | Proprietary wall and counter boxes |
| Installation | Minutes, no rewiring | Professional wiring and mounting |
| Message detail | Full text, "Dr. Smith · Needed · Exam 1" | Color lights and chimes only |
| History & acknowledgment | Every message logged, with read receipts | None |
| Change buttons or rooms | Edit it yourself, anytime | Service call / rewire |
| Channels | Unlimited, plus a built-in Emergency channel | Fixed by the wiring |
| If the internet is down | Keeps signaling on your office network | Wired, keeps working |
| Cost | $3 / device / month, or $2 billed yearly (33% off) · 5 device minimum · 30-day trial from 2 devices | Hardware + installation |
| Updates | Automatic, over the air | Hardware swaps |
Comparison reflects the typical characteristics of legacy wired call-box systems as of July 2026. Porter is a trademark of its respective owner; AltoSignal is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. Check the vendor for current product details.
Mount an iPad at the front desk, use the iMac in the back, add a phone in the sterilization area. No new hardware, no wiring.
Instead of guessing what a light means, the team reads the exact message: who, what, and where, in large type on every screen.
New doctor, new room, new workflow? Edit the buttons in seconds, no technician, no service call, no rewire.
Yes. AltoSignal does the same job as a Porter call-box system, signaling your team who is needed, what is happening, and where, with native apps on the devices you already own, with message history and read receipts the lights never had.
No. AltoSignal has native apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire, Mac, and Linux, plus a browser version for any computer, and A Windows app is on the way. There is no wiring, no wall boxes, and no service call to change a button or a room.
AltoSignal is $3 per device per month, or $2 per device per month when billed yearly, a 33% saving. Paid plans have a 5 device minimum. The 30-day free trial does not, so you can start on as few as 2 devices, with no credit card. There is no hardware to buy and no installation fee. For 20 devices or more we offer volume pricing, so email sales@altosignal.com and we will quote you.
Yes, inside the office. Devices running the AltoSignal app on the same network hand signals straight to each other at the same time as the cloud, so your team keeps signaling with nothing to switch on. Changing button labels, adding a channel, or reaching a second location waits until the connection is back. The browser version does not take part in local delivery. See how local delivery works.
See it working: Walkthrough · Guides
Set it up in under ten minutes on the devices you already have. Cancel anytime, no phone call.
Start 30-day free trial