Verizon Hub Phone gets really real, really

By on Jan 23, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Hardware January 23, 2009

First uncovered well over a year ago, the “Verizon Hub” is finally going to see the light of day. Talk of the Hub, Hub Phone, Ultra-deskphone or whatever else you want to call it, was revived earlier this week when accessories began popping up on the Verizon website. Lo and behold, Big Red has made it official with a press release. So, umm, what is it?

…a new touch screen home phone system designed to replace old-style home phones with a souped-up home communications system, bridging wireline and wireless connectivity in one simple service, that runs on any broadband connection – whether supplied by Verizon FiOS Internet or DSL or any other high-speed service provider.

Well then. Mike Lanman, VP and CMO at Verizon Wireless goes on to say, “The Verizon Hub is going to change the way you think about what you want and need your home phone to do. Whether you’re thinking about getting rid of your home phone or can’t live without it, now is the time to try out the Verizon Hub.” The Verizon Hub will make use of the generously sized touchscreen in a variety of ways – weather info, a variety of calendar and time management functions, movie previews, ticket purchasing and so on. As for pricing, you’re looking at $200 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a monthly $35 subscription that includes unlimited US calling and messaging. The Verizon Hub is set to become available on February 1 – any takers?

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  • Michelle

    Hi. Was just looking into this Hub thing and noticed your comments. I know that it is 200 now with a 50 rebate, but still. I know about the 35 a month, but I was figuring it would be at least the same if not cheaper than the long distance I already pay. I am wondering what the 50 was for, internet service? I have Fios Bundle as of recent which has been a money saver compared to previously and was going to try to figure out if I could at all try to bundle this Hub to make it cheaper. Anyway, if you could help me at all, I would appriciate it. Thanks, Michelle

  • http://? bdwolfhound

    Anyone thinking of buying a Hub phone should look into the history of the Verizon One phone – a great DSL gadget that combined phone, modem and router in one package with Ethernet and wireless outputs. It had feeds for weather, news, movie listings and reviews and a bunch of other stuff. Shortly after launching it, Verizon quit promoting it and let it basically die off. Most Verizon staff had no idea what it was. Only the most persistent inquiry could find the secretive Verizon One group to get any info on the phone.

    If they provided a similar phone that ran off FIOS, I would buy it. The Hub on the other hand looks like the answer to a question that nobody asked.

  • http://www.myspace.com/normgarry/ Normgarry

    This thing is too expensive to justify its cost. You’d be better off just buying a $300 netbook computer and keeping it on your desk.

    of course I want one…but not enough to pay the subscription fee. Why the FK do you need a subscription fee if you’re already paying $100+ per month for FIOS?

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