Verizon Wireless today introduced its long-awaited home phone with advanced Internet connectivity. The touchscreen-enabled Verizon Hub is a VoIP phone that works with your broadband Internet connection. Though Verizon would undoubtedly prefer you use their Verizon FiOS with the Verizon Hub, the phone will work with any broadband Internet service, including other DSL providers and cable modems. Beyond unlimited voice calling and all the calling features you'd expect from an advanced home phone, the Verizon Hub also have plenty of Web option available as widget-like apps on the phone's touch screen. In fact, rounding up the features, it was hard not to think of this device as a multimedia feature phone made larger for the kitchen counter.
The Verizon Hub will have Internet access for useful information like local weather and traffic. The phone will also have access to Verizon Wireless' VZ Navigator turn-by-turn navigation service. Though the directions may not help you much in your kitchen, the Verizon Hub can also forward the driving instructions to a Verizon Wireless phone. In fact, this interoperability is one of the most interesting features of the Verizon Hub, and we hope to see The Network expand these options dramatically. At launch, the Verizon Hub will be able to forward directions, synchronize calendars and send text message alerts to paired Verizon Wireless phones.
Beyond navigation, the Verizon Hub will be able to manage contact lists and calendars, just like a smartphone. Users will also be able to check movie times and purchase tickets from the device. We're not sure if there will be a full Web browser on board, or if this will be a widget from one of the large ticket selling sites.
One of the more interesting features for the Verizon Hub is Visual Voicemail. Only a few Verizon Wireless phones have trickled out with this feature, and on a home phone this makes even more sense than on a portable device.
The Verizon Hub will be available at the beginning of February. With contract agreements and rebates the device will set you back about $200, and the monthly contract, with unlimited calling minutes and text messages, will cost $35.
|
_pt00.jpg)
_pt00.jpg)
_pt00.jpg)
_pt00.jpg)
|
Archive