In the CE world, success is all about timing. Verizon debuted its Verizon One gadget years ago, but that was before the widget craze, before FiOS was a household word, and before streaming radio and digital photo frames raised the profile of non-computer, Internet-connected devices.
In its latest form, the Verizon One is now called the Verizon Hub, and Dave and I got a chance to see it during our recent visit to Verizon HQ. I love this thing. In brief, it’s a cordless-phone-plus-widget-station that lets you make calls, get news, weather and traffic, share photos and control your FiOS TV (Motorola) set-tops. There are plenty of things it doesn’t do, like let you surf the Web, but that’s what your computer is for. And with the Verizon Hub you won’t get distracted by all of the unread emails in your inbox when you just want to check traffic.
The Verizon Hub has a gorgeous display, a POTS connection (no VoIP), Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port. I’m drooling over the device, but ultimately I think its success will depend on cost. This is a whole new gadget category and it will take a reasonable price point to get the unwashed masses to try it out. That said, if there was ever a time when the Verizon Hub could be successful, it’s now. Lots of people use widgets and RSS feeds, and lots of people like to show off photo slideshows. This isn’t a complete paradigm shift anymore. — More pics after the jump.
Oh yeah, and it orders pizza.
I agree there will be a market for widget stations, but I’m not so sure the people who buy will be using POTS and purchase gadgets from Verizon.
POTS?
POinTlesS.
Since the Hub is geared toward Verizon FiOS users from what I understand then yes the people that would purchase the Hub would be using a Fiber Optic POTS voice connection.
Any news on this? Looks like the links no longer work. I was hoping this would come out.
Talked to A Verizon iobi rep on Wednesday, they said the Hub will be available in January.
Most people I know have more than one phone connected to their landline or VOIP provider. Does it allow for adding extra handsets?
Yes, it does allow extra handsets. The wife came home with one last night. Extra handsets are $79, and I believe you can add as many as 4 extra handsets.
I just reviewed this in the store. However, one questions comes to mind that I didn’t think about. Will this device allow more than one phone number to be used ? My current VoIP allows two seperate phone lines to be used.
Excited to make HUGE sales with the Verizon Hub:)
-Sales Rep
Verizon Wireless
But have you seen the VOIP VideoPhone?
It will change the way we communicate. Not only is it a regular phone for 29.99 per month.. but it is a videophone too.. not to mention to can call over 14 countries for free. Just a thought.
Ryan
twindon98@yahoo.com
With say, 4 handsets located in various rooms in the house, does it function as an intercom ?
Mari,
Here is an important caveat for most existing Verizon Fios bundled customers (Phone, TV and Internet).
If you want to enable the Hub and port over your current home number to the Hub service a $199 cancelation fee will be on your next bill.
This is because the “Hub” is a Verizon Wireless product and all Fios services are a part of Verizon Residential. In this instance they seem to be in direct competition with one another.
Verizon Hub is offering a product to the HOME PHONE USER but negated
to keep many wonderful features that this market is offers: INTERCOM
SYSTEM and the opportunity to have MULTIPLE LINES ON A PHONE.
Their focus is on integrating the features of a cell phone to the
HOME PHONE environment and what they forget is the HOME PHONE
environment is for multiple users (families) in most cases.
NEED TO ADD TO GET OUR VOTE:
1) Intercom system, communicate among the phones… All Page “Dinner
time!”
or Ring a room to pick up to deliver a message. We try to stop
the yelling from room to room.
2) Multiple lines to be received by the HUB. So many of us work out
of our homes or need 2 lines to ensure a business line is open. We
don’t want two HUBS in our kitchen to ensure both lines ring in our
kitchen. We don’t want to be carrying around our BUSINESS LINE HUB
in the house to have access to it when it rings … that is why we
have cell phones. So make the HUB a HOME BASED PHONE and offer
multiple lines on it to be received throughout the HOUSE!
IF YOU UPGRADE TO A FULL FEATURED HOME PHONE WITH THE ADDED “CELL
PHONE” BENEFITS, THEN WE WOULD PURCHASE THIS NEW “HOME” PHONE
PRODUCT!!!!
Robin,
When you say “we” are you including the mouse in your pocket?
BIG PIECE OF SH_ _ I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND ISSUES. IF YOU WANT TO RETURN IT GET IT BACK TO THEM RIGHT AWAY.THEY JERK YOU AROUND SO GET IT BACK FAST.