A mobile intercom device (101, 200, 303, 305, 307, 309, 400) comprising: a plurality of button pairs (207, 209), each button pair (207, 209) including a talk button and a listen button; a display screen (203, 213); and an electronic processor configured to display a list of alphanumeric identifiers on the display screen (203, 213), each alphanumeric identifier in the list of alphanumeric identifiers corresponding to a different one of a plurality of channels on an intercom system, receive a selection of a first alphanumeric identifier from the list of alphanumeric identifiers displayed on the display screen (203, 213), assign a channel on the intercom system corresponding to the first alphanumeric identifier to a first button pair (207, 209) of the plurality of button pairs (207, 209) in response to receiving the selection of the first alphanumeric identifier from the list, and transmit audio stream data from the mobile intercom device (101, 200, 303, 305, 307, 309, 400) to the channel on the intercom system corresponding to the first alphanumeric identifier when the talk button of the first button pair (207, 209) is activated, wherein the mobile intercom device (101, 200, 303, 305, 307, 309, 400) further comprises a rotary control, and wherein the electronic processor is further configured to cause the mobile intercom device to enter or exit a mode which suppresses illumination when the rotary control is double-tapped. a plurality of button pairs (207, 209), each button pair (207, 209) including a talk button and a listen button; a display screen (203, 213); and an electronic processor configured to display a list of alphanumeric identifiers on the display screen (203, 213), each alphanumeric identifier in the list of alphanumeric identifiers corresponding to a different one of a plurality of channels on an intercom system, receive a selection of a first alphanumeric identifier from the list of alphanumeric identifiers displayed on the display screen (203, 213), assign a channel on the intercom system corresponding to the first alphanumeric identifier to a first button pair (207, 209) of the plurality of button pairs (207, 209) in response to receiving the selection of the first alphanumeric identifier from the list, and transmit audio stream data from the mobile intercom device (101, 200, 303, 305, 307, 309, 400) to the channel on the intercom system corresponding to the first alphanumeric identifier when the talk button of the first button pair (207, 209) is activated, display a list of alphanumeric identifiers on the display screen (203, 213), each alphanumeric identifier in the list of alphanumeric identifiers corresponding to a different one of a plurality of channels on an intercom system, receive a selection of a first alphanumeric identifier from the list of alphanumeric identifiers displayed on the display screen (203, 213), assign a channel on the intercom system corresponding to the first alphanumeric identifier to a first button pair (207, 209) of the plurality of button pairs (207, 209) in response to receiving the selection of the first alphanumeric identifier from the list, and transmit audio stream data from the mobile intercom device (101, 200, 303, 305, 307, 309, 400) to the channel on the intercom system corresponding to the first alphanumeric identifier when the talk button of the first button pair (207, 209) is activated, wherein the mobile intercom device (101, 200, 303, 305, 307, 309, 400) further comprises a rotary control, and wherein the electronic processor is further configured to cause the mobile intercom device to enter or exit a mode which suppresses illumination when the rotary control is double-tapped.